Washington, D.C. — On a press call this afternoon, Independent Women’s Voice (IWV), Independent Women’s Law Center (IWLC), and Women’s Liberation Front (WoLF) unveiled and called for legislative adoption of the Women’s Bill of Rights to protect biological sex as a distinct legal category.
Dictionaries commonly define “woman” as an “adult female human being.” But that basic definition has come under fire in recent years by activists who dispute the biological basis of womanhood. Likewise, the past few years have seen numerous efforts to decouple the legal meaning of sex from biology.
Jennifer C. Braceras, director of Independent Women’s Law Center, said “It is becoming increasingly difficult to speak about women and women’s rights in a common language. Today, we are unveiling the Women’s Bill of Rights in order to legally define what it means to be a woman.”
The Women’s Bill of Rights defines “sex” as a person’s biological sex (either male or female) at birth and seeks to enshrine in law the common understanding of the words “woman”, “girl”, and “mother.”
The Women’s Bill of Rights would also codify the Supreme Court’s intermediate scrutiny standard, which forbids unfair discrimination against similarly-situated males and females but allows the law to recognize sex when relevant.
Lauren Adams, WoLF’s Legal Director, said, “The Women’s Bill of Rights would ensure that our laws continue to recognize that there are legitimate reasons to distinguish between the sexes with respect to athletics, prisons, domestic violence and rape crisis services, restrooms, and other areas where biology, safety, or privacy are implicated.”
Kara Dansky, president of the U.S. chapter of Women’s Declaration International, said, “The U.S. chapter of Women’s Declaration International (WDI USA) is proud to support the Women’s Bill of Rights. We work to advance the radical feminist and nonpartisan Declaration on Women’s Sex-Based Rights at all levels of government, and this bill is consistent with that objective.”
Doreen Denny, Senior Advisor, Concerned Women for America, added, “The Women’s Bill of Rights is a common-sense declaration on the biology of sex. It should be something people across the political spectrum can come together and embrace. All women should have the assurance that our intrinsic dignity and status are recognized and protected on the basis of sex.”
Author Abigail K. Shrier said, “I’m signing the Woman’s Bill of Rights because the rights that generations of women fought for must not be dismantled to appease anyone.”
Women’s rights advocate Ayaan Hirsi Ali has also endorsed the measure, asking “What is a woman? The answer should be obvious to all. Unfortunately, today it is not. That’s why I am proud to endorse the Women’s Bill of Rights. This common-sense document should bring together all women regardless of their politics or religion.”
Read the Women’s Bill of Rights HERE.
Replay of Women’s Bill of Rights press call 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.
Independent Women’s Law Center advocates for equal opportunity, individual liberty, and respect for the American constitutional order.
Women’s Liberation Front works to protect, advance, and restore the rights of women and girls through legal argument, policy advocacy, and public education.