AUSTIN, TX — Today Independent Women announced that Payton McNabb, Independent Women sports ambassador and former high school athlete, and Amie Ichikawa, Independent Women women’s spaces ambassador, former prisoner, and founder of Woman II Woman, are set to be on the ground in Austin this week for Texas’ legislative day of action—including a press conference organized by Texas Values in support of the pro-woman package. The Texas House voted to pass House Bill 229, which is a sex-definition bill that Independent Women has been working to advance for the past two legislative sessions. The Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 240, which protects certain single-sex spaces and has been championed by Texas Values and other pro-woman groups.
Independent Women is grateful that Texas Governor Greg Abbott stood with women by signing the Save Women’s Sports Act (S.B. 15) to protect female sports back in 2023. It is now time for Texas to define what a woman is.
Independent Women joined Governor Abbott for the ceremonial signing of the Save Women’s Sports bill.
HB 229 is modeled after Independent Women’s sex-definition legislation that has been implemented across the country and most recently used as the basis for President Trump’s executive order to define sex-based words. HB 229 articulates Texas’ important interest in offering single-sex spaces, such as prisons, locker rooms, and domestic violence shelters, to advance privacy, safety, and fairness.
By defining common sex-based words—words like “woman” and “female” already used in 131 Texas statutes—HB 229 will give meaning to common words so that Texas courts have clarity when interpreting laws that already exist, ensuring that women don’t lose their sex-based rights.
Ichikawa and McNabb have advocated for sex-definition bills like HB 229 and SB 240 across the country, as they know firsthand the dangers of allowing men access to women’s sports and spaces. Both of these ladies have life-altering and heartwrenching stories that have been captured by Independent Women Features (IW Features)—Independent Women’s grassroots storytelling and original journalism arm—and showcase why it is critical that pro-women legislation be advanced in states to protect women’s safety, privacy, and equal opportunity:
- Exposing ‘Trans Supremacy’ Inside Women’s Prisons
- Kill Shot: How Payton McNabb Turned Tragedy into Triumph
In her testimony to the Texas House State Affairs Committee on April 25, 2025, Ichikawa said:
“HB 229 is a necessary step to define common sex-based terms such as ‘female’ and ‘male’ in Texas law. Without clear definitions, policies that prioritize ideology over reality will continue to endanger the safety, privacy, and rights of women. This bill also helps protect single-sex spaces, which are critical for the dignity and well-being of women in prisons, shelters, sports, and other settings.
“We all want to ensure the rights of all are protected, but when men invade women’s spaces, like prisons, women are disproportionately harmed and their rights are discarded in the name of inclusion. You can be both for equality and single-sex spaces.”
In her testimony to the Texas House State Affairs Committee on April 25, 2025, McNabb said:
“I appreciate that Texas has already taken action to protect women’s sports, but sports is just one example where women are facing sex discrimination. This is why it is crucial that you pass HB 229 to define common sex-based terms.
“I write to you today to represent not just myself but also my sister who lives in Texas and the over 14 million women and girls in Texas who deserve for their rights to be safeguarded. Please stand with women and support HB 229 today.”
Additional testimonies from Independent Women on the importance of sex definitions law in Texas:
For media inquiries or to book Payton McNabb and/or Amie Ichikawa, please email [email protected].
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