WASHINGTON, D.C.—Independent Women’s Voice (IWV) applauds the vote by the Mississippi State Senate to pass the “Mississippi Fairness Act” (Senate Bill 2536) to save girls’ and women’s sports.
The bill establishes that, when it comes to public and college athletics in the state of Mississippi, “sex” shall be determined on the basis of biological sex at birth, not gender identity.
“Women have fought long and hard for equal athletic opportunities,” said Hadley Heath Manning, policy director at IWV. “Allowing biological males to compete against females will limit women’s chances of success, take spots (and potential scholarships) away from women, and place women at risk of injury.”
Mississippi’s efforts are more important than ever. At the federal level, President Joe Biden recently signed an executive order that jeopardizes the future of women’s sports. His executive order will allow for any man to compete in women’s sports for any reason—ultimately threatening to limit women’s chances of success and take spots (and scholarships) away from women.
IWV’s sister organization, Independent Women’s Forum (IWF), has been speaking with women and girls across the country, collecting their stories about what being, raising, or watching female athletes means to them. They have also shared their concerns about Biden’s executive order and its implications for women sports.
Read more about Title IX and women’s sports from IWF HERE.
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