Girls’ sports are at risk in Louisiana. For weeks, Louisiana’s student athletes and concerned citizens have anxiously anticipated the decision of Governor John Bel Edwards on the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, sponsored by Senator Beth Mizell.
SB 156, the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, passed the Senate by a vote of 29-6 and the House by a vote of 78-17.
Sadly, Gov. Edwards chose D.C. politics over Louisiana values and vetoed the bill.
But there is hope!
The Louisiana Constitution provides for the legislature to consider a governor’s veto and to decide whether to override. Once a legislative session has concluded, a veto override session is automatically scheduled. However, a majority of lawmakers in either house, polled by a mail-in ballot, can elect to cancel the override session. This essentially means that twenty senators and fifty-three representatives must agree to hold the session.
Family Policy Alliance joins our friends at Louisiana Family Forum in respectfully urging legislators to exercise their constitutional right and responsibility to review the Governor’s veto. There is a short window of opportunity to do this, so time is of the essence!
What can you do to help?
Go to our Action Center to tell Louisiana legislators why they should override the Governor’s veto on SB 156. Louisiana women and female athletes deserve a fair playing field and legal protections in competitive sports!
Thank you for doing your part to protect girls’ sports in Louisiana!
Nicole Hudgens
Government Affairs
The battle to save women’s sports in Louisiana has reached its final stage: Gov. John Bel Edwards’s desk. The corporate and national pressure for him to veto this good bill is intense, and that’s why we – along with our allies at Louisiana Family Forum – are asking you to take a moment to email or call him today!
Legislators on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers understand the importance of protecting opportunities guaranteed to women through Title IX – and those include sports and scholarship programs. Allowing biological men to infringe on those protections is anti-woman and a violation of women’s rights.
Senate Bill 156 would protect female athletic opportunities from being hijacked by biological males. It’s about both science and fairness:
- Science. It’s common sense to keep boys out of girls’ sports, but it’s also science. There are 6,500 genetic differences between males and females, including males having greater bone density, muscle mass and lung capacity.
- Fairness. Around the country, when biological males are allowed to compete on girls’ sports teams, they frequently rob girls of championships, state records and scholarship opportunities.
Please take 30 seconds to call and leave a message for Gov. Edwards, politely asking him allow SB 156 to go into effect which would protect girls’ sports.
(866) 366-1121
You can also send him an email here.
Thanks for speaking up!
Nicole Hudgens
Government Affairs