A bill recently filed in Texas by State Rep. Valoree Swanson (R-Spring) seeks to maintain fairness in girls’ and women’s sports by keeping transgender female students from competing with biological females. Just hours after being sworn in, President Biden signed an executive order that allows students to compete in sports based on the gender they identify with, rather than the gender listed on their birth certificate.
Author Abigail Shrier, among many other critics of this executive order, feels that girls’ and women’s sports should be reserved for biological females stating, “On day 1, Biden unilaterally eviscerates women’s sports. Any educational institution that receives federal funding must admit biologically-male athletes to women’s teams, women’s scholarships, etc.,” adding that “A new glass ceiling was just placed over girls.”
As many Americans focus on the possibilities of having the first female Vice President, others are concerned with what the Biden Administration is doing to female athletes, many of which rely on athletic scholarships to attend college. Arguably, girls from lower-income families would be most affected by this order, potentially closing the door for disadvantaged females seeking entry into higher-education institutions.
Biden’s order states that “Every person should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear, no matter who they are or whom they love,” while using Title IX as the basis for this decision. However, Title IX provides protection from discrimination against women and girls in any school receiving federal funding. Opponents of Biden’s order argue that it inherently discriminates against biological females based partly on the physiological differences that exist between the two sexes. Based on science, women and girls are at a disadvantage when it comes to physicality, strength, and speed.
Supporters of the executive order feel it is in line with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The Human Rights Campaign tweeted their support for Biden’s decision, saying, “The executive order enforces the Supreme Court’s decision in June 2020 that sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination are prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.” In a follow-up tweet, the organization stated, “We celebrate these victories, and look forward to joining with our allies to fight for anti-discrimination statutes extending additional protections at the state level across the country.”
Opponents of the executive order, such as Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said, “Sadly, the Biden administration is planning to go much further in its assault on biological reality and is expected to order schools to abolish girls’ sports and force boys and girls to use the same showers and locker rooms, and maybe even bunk together on school trips.” Perkins added, “The party that claims to be the party of science is advancing policies on day one that deny reality.”
Several other states have filed bills attempting to keep female sports fair for girls and women. Idaho passed the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” last year, and Montana’s bill, the “Save Women’s Sports Act,” will be presented in the state’s senate in the coming days. A total of nine additional states have similar bills pending, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Other state legislatures are expected to introduce new bills shortly in reaction to the Biden Administration’s order.
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