WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) introduced The Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act. The bill modernizes the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act of 1978 to prohibit any sports governing body recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) from allowing men to participate in athletic events intended for women. Independent Women’s Voice (IWV) and Independent Women’s Law Center (IWLC) have been on the frontlines of the fight for women’s sports and lead Our Bodies, Our Sports, a coalition of women’s advocacy organizations promoting fair athletic policies rooted in science and advocating for female athletes and the elimination of discrimination against them in their own sport. IWV and IWLC applaud Sen. Tuberville and Rep. Steube for their continued leadership to stand up for women and girls and the fair and level playing field they deserve.
The bicameral bill will apply to any amateur sports governing body recognized by the USOC. Like IWV and IWLC’s Women’s Bill of Rights model legislation, the bill establishes common definitions for words like ‘sex’, ‘woman,’ and ‘man.’
“As an athlete who has experienced the injustice of competing against a male firsthand, I’m grateful for the leadership of Representative Steube and Senator Tuberville. They have made it clear that they will fight for fairness, privacy, and safety for girls and women in sports,” said Riley Gaines, Independent Women’s Voice Ambassador.
“Allowing even a single female athlete to be displaced by a biological male is discriminatory, and it is unacceptable. We are grateful for Representative Steube and Senator Tuberville’s leadership and for their efforts to protect equal athletic opportunities for both sexes,” said Jennifer Braceras, Vice President for Legal Policy, Independent Women’s Forum.
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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 fights for equal opportunity, due process of law, and the continued legal relevance of biological sex.