IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2022
MEDIA ADVISORY
Female Athletes Rally for Women’s Only Sports on 50th Anniversary of Title IX June 23rd, 11AM Rally in Washington, D.C.Let’s Keep Women’s Sports Female
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, female athletes, parents, and advocates will join fourteen organizations from across the political spectrum to rally for “Our Bodies, Our Sports.” June 23rd marks the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, the federal civil rights law as part of the Education Amendments of 1972 which prohibits sex-based discrimination in education.
Since its passing in 1972, Title IX has transformed sports by guaranteeing women the right to equal athletic opportunities. Before Title IX, only one in 27 girls participated in sports. Today, two in five do. Despite this progress, female athletes are being sidelined in order to make room for males. This isn’t right, and it isn’t fair. It’s time to take back Title IX.
Statement from Nicole Hudgens, Director of Government Affairs for Family Policy Alliance, who will speak at today’s rally:
“Today we should be celebrating 50 years of women’s athletic advancement—and we do. But today’s female athletes are facing the same issues they did 50 years ago when President Biden first ran for Senate. They risk being sidelined in their own sports while men threaten to take over their fair competition, championships, scholarships and locker rooms.
“But the movement to save girls’ sports is growing every day. States with save girls’ sports laws grew from one to 18 in just 3 years. It is a bipartisan movement dedicated to preserving the intent of Title IX and protecting the future of our girls. So on this 50th anniversary, we are proud to stand with female athletes and against woke ideology that threatens to shatter their dreams.”
Family Policy Alliance, Independent Women’s Forum, Women’s Liberation Front, the Heritage Foundation, Women’s Declaration International USA Chapter, Concerned Women for America, ICONS, Save Women’s Sports, Alliance Defending Freedom, Independent Women’s Voice, and several other organizations are sponsoring the rally to celebrate female athletes and to highlight the need to preserve single-sex athletic competition.
The rally will take place at 11:00 a.m. ET at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C.
WHAT: Rally for “Our Body, Our Sports” to celebrate female athletes and single-sex competitionWHEN: June 23, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. EDT
- Press arrival: 9:00 a.m. EDT
- Doors open: 10:00 a.m. EDT
WHERE: Freedom Plaza (1301 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004)WHY: Celebrate 50 years of Title IX and advocate to keep women’s sports female Athletes in attendance will include:
- Cynthia Monteleone, Team USA world champion track athlete who competed against a transgender athlete at the World Championship
- Taylor Silverman, professional skateboarder who competed against transgender athlete Lillian Gallagher at the Red Bull Cornerstone competition
- Kim Jones, former All-American tennis player, mother of Ivy League swimmer, and co-founder of Independent Council of Women’s Sports (ICONS)
- Marshi Smith, former University of Arizona swimmer, NCAA and PAC-10 champion, and co-founder of Independent Council of Women’s Sports (ICONS)
- Inga Thompson, 3x Olympic cyclist who competed when there were no women’s teams
- Chelsea Mitchell, top high school runner who lost four state championships, two all-New England awards, and additional other honors to male-bodied competitors, and her mother, Christy Mitchell
- Madison Kenyon, Idaho State NCAA athlete who competed against male athlete in college track, standing up to defend Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act
- Mary Marshall, Idaho State NCAA athlete who competed against male athlete in college track, standing up to defend Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act
- Alanna Smith, Connecticut track athlete who lost to male athletes in high school, and her mother, Cheryl Radachowsky
- Selina Soule, Connecticut track athlete who lost out on placements and opportunities to advance because she was forced to compete against male athletes
- Macy Petty, NCAA scholarshipped athlete (volleyball) and Young Women for America leader
- Chloe Satterfield, freshman at Georgia Tech who competed against a male identifying as female her senior year and lost. He was a freshman.
- And more!
Additional rally participants include:
- Tulsi Gabbard, Former U.S. Representative (D-HI), original sponsor of the Protect Women’s Sports Act
- Candice Jackson, Former Deputy General Counsel, Department of Education
- Rep. Barbara Ehardt, Idaho State Representative; original sponsor Fairness in Women’s Sports Act; former Idaho State athlete and 15-year NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Coach
- Carrie Lukas, President, Independent Women’s Forum
- Penny Nance, CEO and President, Concerned Women for America
- Amanda Houdeschell, Volunteer, Member, & Events Manager, Women’s Liberation Front (WoLF)
- Nicole Hudgens, Government Affairs, Family Policy Alliance
- Annabelle Rutledge, National Director, Young Women for America
- Kara Dansky, President, Women’s Declaration International USA Chapter
- Jennifer C. Braceras, Director, Independent Women’s Law Center
- Sarah Parshall Perry, Senior Legal Fellow, The Heritage Foundation
- Christiana Kiefer, Senior Counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom
- Meg Kilgannon, Senior Fellow for Education Studies, Family Research Council
- Beth Stelzer, Founder, Save Women’s Sports
- Maud Maron, New York Democrat for Congress
- Lauren Levey, Women’s rights and lesbian rights activist; Co-founder, Sirens Women’s Motorcycle Club in New York City; Vice President, Women’s Declaration International USA Chapter
- And more!
SPONSORS:
For press inquiries about the rally, contact press@ourbodiesoursports.com.
For press inquiries for Family Policy Alliance, contact media@familypolicyalliance.com
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