WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tomorrow, Representatives Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), Jim Banks (IN-03), Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Claudia Tenney (NY-22), Mary Miller (IL-15), and Vicky Hartzler (MO-04) will introduce a House resolution that will protect biological sex as a distinct legal category. A companion resolution co-sponsored by Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) will also be introduced tomorrow in the Senate. The bicameral resolutions will protect biological sex as a distinct legal category.
The Bill defines ‘sex’ as a person’s biological sex (either male or female) at birth and adopts the common public understanding of the words ‘woman’, ‘girl’, and ‘mother.’
It also seeks to codify the Supreme Court’s intermediate scrutiny standard, which forbids unfair sex discrimination but allows government to recognize sex differences when substantially related to an important government interest.
The resolution will be unveiled tomorrow, May 19, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. ET on the House Triangle.
WHO:
- Representative Debbie Lesko (AZ-08)
- Representative Jim Banks (IN-03)
- Representative Diana Harshbarger (TN-01)
- Representative Mary Miller (IL-15)
- Representative Claudia Tenney (NY-22)
- Representative Vicky Hartzler (MO-04)
- Heather Higgins, CEO, Independent Women’s Voice
WHAT: Press conference to discuss House resolution protecting biological sex as a distinct legal category.
WHEN: Thursday, March 19th at 10:30am ET
WHERE: House Triangle (House side on the East Front of the United States Capitol, Washington, DC 20016)
The resolution represents legislative endorsement of the principles contained in the Women’s Bill of Rights (WBOR), model legislation drafted by Independent Women’s Voice, Independent Women’s Law Center (IWLC), and Women’s Liberation Front (WoLF) in March 2022.
WBOR has received wide support from congressional candidates Karoline Leavitt, Anthony Sabatini, Jeanine Lawson (VA-10), and from authors Abigail Shrier and Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Concerned Women for America and the U.S. Chapter of Women’s Declaration International have also endorsed the Women’s Bill of Rights.
Rep. Debbie Lesko, one of the resolution’s co-sponsors, said, “I am proud to introduce the Women’s Bill of Rights to affirm the importance of acknowledging women and their unique and distinguishing characteristics and contributions to our nation. As the Left continues to erase women, we must fight for women and their place in our society. Whether it’s keeping the word ‘mother’ in written law, or ensuring women’s domestic violence shelters do not have to accept biological men, we must stand up for women.”
Independent Women’s Law Center Director Jennifer Braceras said, “We can’t fight sex discrimination if we can’t agree on what it means to be a woman. And we can’t collect accurate data regarding public health, medicine, education, crime, and the economic status of women if we redefine sex to mean ‘gender identity.’ At Independent Women’s Law Center, we know what a woman is. Thankfully, Representatives Lesko, Banks, Harshbarger, and Miller do too.”
“Women and girls’ interests are being short-changed today by those who seek to eradicate sex-specific sports, facilities and opportunities,” added Independent Women’s Voice vice president Carrie Lukas. “That ends today. I’m grateful that Representatives Lesko, Banks, Harshbarger, and Miller are standing up for women and for common sense.”
Read the Women’s Bill of Rights HERE.
Sign the Women’s Bill of Rights, click 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.