MONTGOMERY, AL — Today, Independent Women is thrilled to celebrate Alabama State Representative Susan DuBose’s introduction of the “What is a Woman Act” in Alabama on the heels of Independent Women’s “Stand With Women” initiative driving sweeping pro-woman election victories across the country. The legislation, inspired by Independent Women’s Stand with Women Act, would fortify the definitions of male and female terms in law and protect the existence of single-sex spaces such as rape crisis centers and dormitories.
To support Alabama’s initiative, Independent Women conducted polling in Alabama, which confirms that there is nearly unanimous support for DuBose’s bill. 97% of Alabamians said it’s important Alabama law protects private spaces for women—like locker rooms, prisons, rape-crisis centers, and sports. 85% of respondents think it is important that Alabama pass a law to define sex-based terms like “man,” “woman,” “female,” and “male.” The Alabama polling far exceeds polling at the national level where 73% of Americans believe preventing men from accessing women’s private spaces, athletics, and educational opportunities is important to them. Independent Women, knowing that this was a winning national issue, has worked with federal and state legislators over the past several years to advance its Stand With Women legislative options.
Rep. Susan DuBose introduced Independent Women’s model legislation in the Alabama Legislature in 2022 and 2023, moving her state closer to codifying “male” and “female” terms in state law. She is now calling upon the state legislature to join lawmakers nationwide in responding to the surge of support among voters in the 2024 election to protect women’s single-sex sports and spaces.
Independent Women looks forward to safeguarding the rights of Alabamian women under both state and federal law.
Rep. DuBose’s introduction follows bipartisan support in the U.S. House for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. This vote paves the way for the Senate bill, sponsored by Alabama Coach (Sen.) Tommy Tuberville. In April 2023, Independent Women applauded Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) for sponsoring the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which has now been reintroduced in the 119th Congress.
As “Stand With Women” champions in the new Congress work to restore critically needed protections for women, President Donald Trump has also delivered on his campaign promise to stand with women by issuing a day-one executive order to define male and female terms. Trump’s sex-definition executive order, based on Independent Women’s definitions, is a nationwide victory for women and girls, preserving the legal existence of women as distinct from men.
In addition, a Federal District Court in Kentucky recently issued a decision in Tennessee v. Cardona that struck down the Biden administration’s unlawful attempt to redefine “sex”’ in Title IX to include “gender identity.” The Court’s ruling applies nationwide, a major win for women and girls across the country, and further showcases the national momentum on this issue.
The “What is a Woman Act” in Alabama represents a wave of pro-woman policies set to take place across the country.
“It’s not anti-anyone to be pro-woman. Rep. DuBose has been a tireless champion for women’s rights and good governing. Her ‘What is a Woman Act’ is a necessary bill to ensure judicial activists can’t twist the meaning of common-sense words. It was a pleasure to join her in Alabama last year to advocate for her bill, and I look forward to championing it over the finish line this year,” said Independent Women Ambassador Paula Scanlan.
Rep. Susan DuBose, Alabama House of Representatives District 45, said, “Alabamians clearly delivered an election mandate to preserve women’s rights. My colleagues and I have a responsibility to define sex-based terms and protect women’s private spaces. This is not controversial, it is common sense, and momentum is on the side. I am excited to re-introduce my ‘What is a Woman Act’ and ensure that when Alabama statute says ‘woman’ or ‘man,’ there is no confusion over what those words mean. This bill is sound policy, rooted in objective truth, and it has tremendous public support.”
Alabama Attorney General Steven Marshall said, “I applaud Rep. DuBose for her courage and leadership to protect Alabama’s women and girls. The American people spoke clearly on these issues in November, President Trump has taken action, and it’s time for Alabama to follow suit. I look forward to working with Susan and other members of the Legislature to ensure that Alabamians can put this issue to rest once and for all.”
Kansas, Tennessee, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Arkansas have adopted legislation inspired by Independent Women’s sex-definition model, impacting the lives of over 14 million women and girls.
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