Support Fairness in Girls' Sports

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN ACTIVELY SUPPORT HB 47 – FAIRNESS IN GIRLS’ SPORTS ACT.  CLUB PRESIDENTS PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR MEMBERS. 

  • SEND E-MAIL LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE JANUARY 22 - 26. (LIST ATTACHED). IF POSSIBLE, SIGN UP TO TESTIFY ORALLY (IN PERSON), VIRTUALLY AND/OR SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY.  YOU MUST SIGN UP ON JANUARY 29 BETWEEN 8 A.M. AND 6 P.M. (GUIDE ATTACHED).

  • ON JANUARY 30TH, CALL EVERY MEMBER OF THE WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE AND URGE THEM TO PROTECT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR GIRLS’ SPORTS BY VOTING FOR A FAVORABLE REPORT FOR HB 47.

For reference: Links are: Contact information for each member of the Ways and Means Committee.; a copy of HB 47; a copy of MFRW’s new brochure “Boys in Girls’ Sports – Is it fair?” (lots of information and sources) and a copy of “Fast Facts Sports”.  

VERY IMPORTANT:  If one of the Delegates on the Committee represents your Legislative District, be sure to say that you are that Delegate’s constituent.  Delegates pay more attention to their own constituents’ views.

Delegates Robert Long and April Miller are members of the W&M Committee and co-sponsors of HB 47.  Please thank them for sponsoring this legislation.   Please urge them and the other Republican Delegates on the Committee to fight vigorously for a Favorable Report from the Committee. They are:  Delegates Jason Buckel; Mike Griffith; Wayne Hartman; and Kevin Hornberger.

BELOW ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF POSSIBLE DRAFT MESSAGES

  1. I am writing to you in support of HB 47 – Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act. This bill applies only to high school intramural junior varsity and varsity teams.  It provides for three types of sports/teams:  Girls’, Boys’ and coeducational or mixed team or sports.  It provides athletic opportunities for all students.  Studies comparing the performance levels of elite women athletes to men and boys’ performance show an insurmountable gap between them.  Fairness in the opportunity to compete, and safety on a level playing field where girls to compete against girls is what equality demands. Please vote for a Favorable Report for HB 47.

  1. HB 47 – Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act is being heard in your Ways and Means Committee. Please support this important legislation to preserve the hard-earned opportunities for girls to compete in organized sports in high school in a fair manner and earn athletic awards and scholarships on a level playing field.  Males have physiological and performance advantages over females including cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, speed/agility, and in power tests.  It is not a fair competition for biological females to have to compete against biological males, regardless of their sexual identity preference or declaration.  HB 47 provides for separate sports/teams for Girls, Boys, and coeducational or mixed categories.  It also provides protections from being silenced or retaliated against for reporting violations of these provisions.  Please vote for a Favorable Report for HB 47 in the Ways and Means Committee.

  1. HB 47 – Fairness in Girls Sports’ Act will address several important issues of fairness to Girls who compete in sports at the high school level. (1) Level playing field – girls compete only against biological girls. (2) Reduce potential for injury – teen girls have been shown to be more prone than boys to the most common sports-related injuries (i.e., ankle sprains, knee injuries, stress fractures.)   They have higher rates of concussions and post-concussive syndrome compared to males.   Separate teams/sports options in HB 47 provide opportunities for all students to participate in organized athletics in high school fairly.  I urge you to please vote for a Favorable Report for HB 47 in your committee.

Darcey Clark