Joint Statement on the Women’s Sports Protection Act
SANTA FE, Feb. 23, 2021 — On February 18, Representatives Zachary Cook, Rod Montoya, and James Townsend introduced the Women’s Sports Protection Act (HB 304) in the New Mexico House to prevent the participation of biological males in student athletic leagues designated for women and girls. The sponsors of the bill are joined in support by multiple feminist organizations, including: Women’s Liberation Front, Save Women’s Sports, Women’s Human Rights Campaign USA, and LGB Alliance USA.
This bill has become a necessary step to protect the social and educational gains for women and girls in New Mexico through sports against the trend of ‘gender identity’ policies, which would eliminate single-sex sports.
Since the passage of Title IX, the ability to participate in competitive athletics has significantly benefited women and girls in the United States. In addition to the physical health benefits of an active lifestyle, participation in sports among girls has been shown to increase academic success, boost self-esteem and confidence, lead to lower rates of teen pregnancy, and help women achieve long-term in their careers. Allowing male students to compete in female athletics based on “gender identity” claims puts this progress at risk by creating a unisex environment and thereby denying hard-working women and girls the opportunity to compete in fair and safe sporting competitions.
National polling has revealed bi-partisan support for bills such as HB 304 to protect women’s sports, with sixty-seven percent of voters stating that men or boys should not be permitted to participate in female atlantics regardless of their self-declared “gender identity.”
On behalf of:
Rep. Zachary Cook
Rep. Rob Montoya
Rep. James Townsend
Women’s Liberation Front
Save Women’s Sports
Women’s Human Rights Campaign USA
LGB Alliance USA
Statements from Sponsors and Supporting Organizations:
Rep. Zachary Cook
“Every student has the right to fair and safe participation in sports, and single-sex althetic leagues are an important part of that. The Women’s Sports Protection Act reflects the protections voters in New Mexico want to preserve the rights of women and girls, and I’m proud to have the support of many women’s organizations behind this legislation. I hope that Governor Grisham will join us in passing this bill to ensure equal opportunity for all students.”
Beth Stelzer — Founder, Save Women’s Sports
“We applaud Representative Cook for sponsoring the Women's Sports Protection Act. New Mexico joins half of the nation in introducing bills to preserve female sports this session. Males competing in female sports is a common-sense issue with a simple solution: protect females.”
Natasha Chart — Executive Director, Women’s Liberation Front
“Feminists fought for Title IX and legal protections for women and girls—Now, we are standing up to protect those rights. As a vital piece of legislation, the Women's Sports Protection Act will ensure that the gains of women and girls in New Mexico over the past decade are not lost to the trend of regressive ‘gender identity’ policies.”
Linda Blade — President, Athletics Alberta
“In 1972, Title IX was established to ensure that female persons in the USA could chart their own successful destinies independent of the overwhelming advantages and power enjoyed by male persons. These protections have been vital to women’s athletic achievement. But, today, these very protections are at risk. It is time for our elected officials to stand up and defend this unprecedented threat to our hard-fought rights.”
Kara Dansky — Chair, WHRC Committee on Law and Legislation
“The global Declaration on Women’s Sex-Based Rights re-affirms women and girls’ sex-based rights, and challenges the discrimination we experience from the replacement of the category of sex with that of ‘gender identity.’ Article 7 of the Declaration states: “[t]o ensure fairness and safety for women and girls, the entry of boys and men who claim to have female ‘gender identities’ into teams, competitions, facilities, or changing rooms … set aside for women and girls should be prohibited as a form of sex discrimination.” This bill is in alignment with the Declaration and WHRC USA strongly supports it.”
M. Lynette Hartsell - Spokesperson, LGB Alliance USA
“Sports have been incredibly important for the LGB community. While all of us can enjoy recreational sports or spectating, competition in elite sports serves a crucial role for LGB people, especially among women. Elite sports have been a source of inspiration because of the visibility of role models like Martina Navratilova, and elite sports have been a place where students can first begin building bonds with other young lesbian and bisexual women. The opportunities sports can open up are especially important to lesbians because we know that lesbians are among the most economically disadvantaged people in this country, and sports can be a pathway to economic success, beginning with the opportunities of college. LGB Alliance USA supports HB 304 because it protects this important pathway for women and girls.”