Nearly Half of America is Working to Save Girls’ Sports—Because of You!

February 19
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Last year, Idaho became the first state in the nation to pass Save Girls’ Sports legislation. Family Policy Alliance was honored to play a leading role in this win, yet we knew we couldn’t stop there. Protecting girls’ ability to compete fairly in athletics in one state is a good first step – but we must work to ensure girls win in every state in our nation.

Legislation like Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act is crucial to preserving the rights of female athletes to compete on a level playing field – one without biological males.  Save Girls’ Sports laws ensure that our daughters and granddaughters have the opportunity to win races, stand on the podium, earn titles and scholarships – and maybe even an Olympic medal.  Sadly, without these legislative protections, biological males can and do take away our girls’ ability to triumph on the field, in the pool, and wherever athletic competition takes place.

In an effort to generate nationwide awareness and support for legislation to protect female athletes, FPA launched a campaign to #SaveGirlsSports last summer. Many of you took to social media to share personal stories and messages of support for protecting female sports. Some of you even posted videos and updated your profile picture with a #SaveGirlsSports filter we provided. Thousands of you visited our campaign website and signed our petition – which now has the endorsement of more than 9,500 Americans.

Through the fall and winter, we have continued our campaign to Save Girls’ Sports via social and traditional media, working in alliance with many likeminded organizations, and through direct contact with legislators supportive of our efforts.

I am thrilled to tell you that as of today, 20 states* have introduced Save Girls’ Sports legislation—and we know more are coming!  So far, three of them – Mississippi, Montana, and North Dakota – have successfully passed a bill out of one chamber (House or Senate), and many more are currently considering bills at the committee level.

In addition, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.  (Thank you, Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT)!)

This type of legislative success – at both the state and federal level, in just one year – is not only remarkable, but also very promising at a time when much happening in politics is discouraging. Policy changes tend to move very slowly; these results would not have happened without you!

We want to keep the momentum going!  Here’s what you can do to help:

  • If you haven’t done so already, sign our petition to #SaveGirlsSports. This show of widespread support makes a real statement to lawmakers who can move the ball forward.
  • If your state is not one of the 20 in the nation to currently have Save Girls’ Sports legislation, contact your representatives and ask them to introduce a bill. (*See the list of states below.)
  • If your state has Save Girls’ Sports legislation, contact your representatives and ask them to cosponsor the bill.
  • Contact your U.S. representative and senators to ask them to support the federal Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.

From all of us at Family Policy Alliance, thank you for taking action and making your voices heard to Save Girls’ Sports.  You are truly making a difference!

For our daughters,

Amanda Banks
Family Policy Alliance

 

*States with Save Girls’ Sports legislation: Arizona,  Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah