April 26, 2023
Dear Members of Congress,
We, the undersigned representing elite female athletes across the United States, applaud the U.S. House passage of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, under the leadership of Speaker Kevin McCarthy. We look forward to Senator Tommy Tuberville leading this effort in the United States Senate this week.
More than 50 years ago, Congress enacted Title IX to ensure equal opportunity in all aspects of education, including athletics. Since then, women’s sports have made tremendous progress. But without single-sex teams and single-sex competition, men will dominate women in competitive sports where strength, size, or speed are relevant factors. That is because, physiologically, the average male is stronger, bigger, and faster than the average female.
Forcing female athletes, like ourselves, to compete against biological males is not only unfair, it is discriminatory and illegal. Allowing biological males to take awards, roster spots, scholarships, or spots at a school from female athletes violates Title IX’s prohibition of discrimination “on the basis of sex.” The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act amends Title IX to make that explicitly clear and puts athletic organizations, athletic directors, and bureaucrats at the Department of Education on notice that they may not adopt policies that promote “inclusion” on the backs of women.
We are thankful to Representative Greg Steube and Senator Tuberville for their leadership on this critical issue and commitment to fight for fairness, privacy, and safety for girls and women in sports, and applaud all 219 members of the U.S. House who voted to stand for women. We strongly urge the U.S. Senate to take up this bill with the urgency it deserves.
Respectfully,
Riley Gaines Barker
Stand With Women Spokeswoman
Independent Women’s Voice
Swimming, All-American
Adriana McLamb
Volleyball, NCAA
Ainsley Erzen
Track, Soccer, NCAA
Alanna Smith
Track & Field
Alison Sydor
Cycling, Olympian
Annie Grevers
Swimming, NCAA Champion
Annie Kunz
Track & Field, Olympian
April Hutchinson
Powerlifting, Professional
Carol Brown
Rowing, Olympian
Carol Lewis
Track & Field, Olympian
Catrina Allen
Disc Golf
Chloe Satterfield
Tennis, NCAA
Christina Trucks
Track & Field, NCAA
Cindy Rusher
Rowing, Olympian
Cynthia Monteleone
Track and Field, Team USA, Masters
Dianna (DeeDee) Fussner
Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA)
Female Pro Master 50+ (FP50)
Evie Edwards
Cross Country, Cyclist
Haley Tanne
Track and Field, NCAA
Heather Formby
Track and Field
Holly LaVesser
Cyclist
Inga Thompson
Cycling, Olympian
Jan Palchikoff
Rowing, Olympian
Janelle Parks Graham
Cycling, Olympian
Jen Hucke
Volleyball, NCAA Champion
Jeri Shanteau
Swimming, All-American
Kacey McKinnon
Lacrosse
Karen Jansen
Golf, LPGA National Teacher of the Year
Kathy Watt
Cycling, Olympian
Katie McCarthy
Golf, NCAA
Kelsey Bolar
Lacrosse, NCAA
Kelly Rickon Mitchell
Rowing, Olympian
Kim Jones
Tennis, All-American
Kimberly Carlisle
Swimming, Olympian
Kimberly Vach
Volleyball, NCAA
Lacey Nymyer
Swimming, Olymipian NCAA Woman of the Year
Lainey Armistead
Soccer, NCAA
Laura Wilkinson
Diver, NCAA, Olympic, and World Champion
Lauren Bondly
Triathlon Age-Group National Champion
Lindsay Shoop
Rowing, Olympian
Linnea Saltz
Track & Field, NCAA Conference Champion
Lisa L. Rainsberger
Track & Field, Olympian Boston Marathon Champion
Lynn Hatcher
Golf, NCAA
Macy Petty
Volleyball, NCAA
Madelyn Sestak
Volleyball, NCAA
Maria Blower
Cycling, Olympian
Mariah Burton Nelson
Basketball, Pro
Marion Clignet
Cycling, Olympian
Mary Forr Szoch
Basketball, NCAA National Champion Runner-Up
Mary T. Meagher
Swimming, Olympian
Madisan DeBos
Track & Field, NCAA
Maggie Malone
Track & Field,
Olympian, NCAA National Champion, Elite Athlete
Margaret O’neal Monteleone
Track & Field
Margo Knorr
Track & Field, NCAA
Margot Kaczorowski
Swimming, NCAA
Maria Broaddus
Volleyball, NCAA
Marshi Smith
Swimming, NCAA Champion
Mary Louise Kellogg Lyman
Rowing, Olympian
Mary I. O’Connor
Rowing, Olympian
Megan Burke
Track & Field, NCAA
Micki King
Diving, Olympian
Nancy Hogshead-Makar
Swimming, Olympian
Payton McNabb
Volleyball
Raime Jones
Swimming, NCAA
Riley Scott
Swimming, All-American
Sara Younger-Merrill
Rowing, Masters
Sarah Powers-Barnhard
Volleyball, NCAA All-American, Team USA
Selina Soule
Track & Field, NCAA
Shannon Keeler
Lacrosse, NCAA Champion
Sheila Young Ochowicz
Speed Skating, Olympian
Sue Walsh
Swimming, Olympian, NCAA/AIAW National Champion
Taylor Silverman
Skateboarding, Professional
Valerie McClain
Rowing, Olympian