NEW YORK, NY — Today, Independent Women’s Voice (IWV) Senior Policy Analyst and New York resident Inez Stepman spoke at a press conference held by The Coalition to Protect Kids-NY at New York City Hall Park to sound the alarm on New York’s dangerous Proposal 1 measure, which will appear on the ballot this November. Prop 1 would require that all New Yorkers be treated according to their “gender identity” and “gender expression,” cementing a basis for men to self-identify into women’s spaces, including sports.
If passed, Prop 1 will be permanently enshrined in the New York constitution—giving males the constitutional right to compete on girls’ sports teams. Prop 1 would effectively erase women’s sports and destroy women’s rights to safety, privacy, and equal athletic opportunity to compete and earn scholarships.
“This ballot measure is a bait and switch on the New York voters. It misleadingly pretends to be about equality, when in reality, it will gut women’s rights by granting access to men in women’s sports competitions, locker rooms, and other single-sex spaces. It will help New York schools hide gender ideology and minor transition from parents. These effects are not popular in New York, which is why proponents are hoping voters don’t read very closely and fall for it,” said Inez Stepman.
Background:
- IWV’s sister organization, Independent Women’s Forum, and Independent Women’s Law Center earlier filed an official comment to the New York State Board of Elections urging clear and precise ballot language for Prop 1.
- Independent Women’s Forum Senior Legal Advisor Beth Parlato penned an op-ed in The New York Sun on why Prop 1 is anti-woman and unconstitutional.
- IWV’s grassroots arm, Independent Women’s Network, garnered signatures on a petition to say no to New York’s Prop 1.
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