WASHINGTON, D.C.—Independent Women’s Voice (IWV) applauds the vote by the South Dakota Senate to save girls’ and women’s sports.
House Bill 1217, voted on by the state Senate, establishes that, when it comes to teams and sports sponsored by schools, school districts, athletic associations, or higher education institutions in the state, sponsored teams/sports must be designated as male, female, or co-ed programs; and “a team or sport designated as being female is available only to participants who are female, based on their biological sex” at birth.
“All students should be treated with dignity and respect,” said Jennifer Braceras, director of Independent Women’s Law Center. “But 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. It undermines the very purpose of Title IX and it’s not fair.”
South Dakota’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 male-bodied athletes, both transgender and otherwise, to compete in women’s sports—limiting women’s chances of success and taking spots (and potentially scholarships) away from females.
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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Independent Women’s Voice fights for women by expanding support for policy solutions that aren’t just well intended, but actually enhance freedom, opportunities, and well-being.