Open letter to athletic governing bodies and public servants to protect women’s sports.
Join female athletes across the country to urge athletic associations, policy makers, and government officials to reject calls to sacrifice female athletes on the altar of “inclusion” and to stand up for equal opportunity, fairness, privacy, and safety by enacting policies and laws that keep women’s sports female.
Open Letter
Keep Women’s Sports Female
June 21, 2023
Title IX is under attack, and women’s spaces are being erased. Faced with this reality, we have no choice but to stand up for women by defending basic truth. We implore all athletic governing bodies and public servants to join us in our fight to protect women’s sports and spaces.
More than 50 years ago, Congress enacted Title IX to ensure equal opportunity in all aspects of education, including athletics. Since then, there has been an explosion in female participation in all levels of athletics. But this progress is today being undermined — both by males seeking access to women’s sports and by government policies that have the potential to undermine the entire legal rationale for single-sex competition.
It is well known that male athletes dominate in sports where strength, size, or speed are relevant factors. That is because, physiologically, the average male is stronger, bigger, and faster than the average female.
Forcing female athletes to compete against males is not only unfair, it’s discriminatory. Allowing biological males to take awards, roster spots, scholarships, or educational opportunities away from female athletes violates Title IX’s prohibition of discrimination “on the basis of sex.”
The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which has passed the U.S. House of Representatives, has been introduced in the U.S. Senate, and which President Biden has promised to veto, would make this explicitly clear and put athletic organizations, athletic directors, and bureaucrats at the Department of Education on notice that they may not adopt policies that promote so-called “inclusion” at the expense of women.
We urge athletic associations, policy makers, and government officials to reject calls to sacrifice female athletes on the altar of “inclusion” and to stand up for equal opportunity, fairness, privacy, and safety by enacting policies and laws that keep women’s sports female.
We stand together in honor of the generations of women who came before us and in defense of all the women and girls who will come next.
Sincerely,
Riley Gaines
Swimming, 12X All-American
Independent Women’s Voice
Abby Carr
Swimming, NCAA
Addison Stiles
Softball, Volleyball
Adriana McLamb
Volleyball, NCAA
Ainsley Erzen
Track, Soccer, NCAA
Alanna Smith
Track & Field
Alayna Connor
Swimming, NCAA
Alexis Hyatt
Softball, Basketball
Alexis Payne
Volleyball, NCAA
Alison Sydor
Cycling, Olympian
Alli Van Schaack
Champion Women’s Field Hockey Team
Allison Stiles
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball
Ally Ledford
Volleyball
Anna Beth Minear
Tennis
Anne Mead
Volleyball, NCAA
Annie Grevers
Swimming, NCAA Champion
Annie Kunz
Track & Field, Olympian
April Hutchinson
Powerlifting, Professional
Aubree Wachacha
Softball, Volleyball, Basketball
Autumn Skinner
Soccer
Ava Queen
Basketball
Avery McNabb
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball
Barbara Ehardt
Basketball, NCAA
15-year Career Division I Women’s Coach
Beth Campbell
Soccer, NCAA
Blake Allen
Volleyball
Bonnie Blair
Speed Skating, Olympian
Bonnie Brandon
Swimming, Pan Am & World Championships Medalist
Bridget Michener
Lacrosse, NCAA
Brinkley Payne
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball
Bronwyn Sims
Gymnastics National/State Championships, Pennsylvania
Brooke Graves
Basketball
Brooklyn Deaver
Softball
Brooklyn Orton
Track, Baseketball, Volleyball
Carol Brown
Rowing, Olympian
Carol Hansen
Gymnastics, NCAA
Carol Henry
Track, Canadian Record Holder, NCAA Bronze Medalist
Cassie Link
Track and Cross-Country
Carol Lewis
Track & Field, Olympian
Catalina Barrieo
Soccer
Catrina Allen
Disc Golf, World Champion
Charli Mcdaniel
Softball, Basketball
Chloe Roe
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball
Chloe Satterfield
Tennis
Christina Trucks
Track & Field, NCAA
Christine Witty
Speed Skating and Track Cycling, Olympian
Cindy Rusher
Rowing, Olympian
Cora Kimsey
Basketball
Courtney Bolling
Soccer, NCAA
Courtney Davis
Basketball
Cynthia Monteleone
Track and Field, Team USA, Masters
Cynthia “Sippy” Woodhead
Swimming, Olympian, 7 World Records
Dianna (DeeDee) Fussner
Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA)
Female Pro Master 50+ (FP50)
Dianne Holum
Speed Skating, 4x Olympic Medalist
Emma Laney
Basketball, Volleyball
Erin Donohue
Track and Cross-Country, Olympian
Erin Dudley Kagan
Softball, NCAA
Erin Powell
Lacrosse, NCAA
Evie Edwards
Cross Country, Cyclist
Grace McNabb
Basketball
Gracie Rhodes
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball
Haley Tanne
Track and Field, NCAA
Halli Gravley
Synchronized Skating, NCAA Club
Hannah Faulkner
USA Triathlon
Heather Formby
Track and Field
Holly LaVesser
Cyclist
Inga Thompson
Cycling, Olympian
Isabella Stiles
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball
Ivie Chapman
Basketball
Jade Dickens
Powerlifting, World Champion
Jamie Cortina
Field Hockey, NCAA
Jan Palchikoff
Rowing, Olympian
Janelle Parks Graham
Cycling, Olympian
Jaylan Hamby
Volleyball
Jeanavis Perry
Basketball
Jen Hucke
Volleyball, NCAA Champion
Jen Livsey
Track & Field, NCAA
Jenna Velardi
Soccer, NCAA
Jennifer Churchfield
Swimmer, NCAA
Jennifer Sey
Gymnastics, National Champion
Jeri Shanteau
Swimming, All-American
Jesse Gey Duke
Field Hockey, NCAA Champion, All American, Olympian
Jessi Martin
Lacrosse, NCAA
Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson
Hockey, 3x Olympic Medalist
Julia Marie Layno
Softball, Volleyball
Kacey McKinnon
Lacrosse
Kalli Hagelin
Softball
Karen Jansen
Golf, LPGA Champion
Karin Ratchinsky
National Soccer Team (Canada Jr.)
Katelyn Conlon
Track and Cross-Country
Kathy Smith Connor
Swimming, US National Team & NCAA Champion
Kathy Watt
Cycling, Olympian
Katie Gibson
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball
Katie McCarthy
Golf, NCAA
Katie McNabb
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball
Kaylee Helton
Soccer
Kelly Rickon Mitchell
Rowing, Olympian
Kelsey Bolar
Lacrosse, NCAA
Kerry Sheedy
Lacrosse, NCAA
Kim Jones
Tennis, All-American
Kimberly Carlisle
Swimming, Olympian
Kimberly Vach
Volleyball, NCAA
Kristin Hopson Addis
Lacrosse, NCAA
Kylee Alons
Swimming, NCAA Champion
Lacey Nymyer
Swimming, Olymipian
NCAA Woman of the Year
Lainey Armistead
Soccer, NCAA
Laura Cummings
Track and Cross-Country
Laura Wilkinson
Diver, NCAA, Olympic, and World Champion
Lauren Bondly
Triathlon Age-Group National Champion
Lauren Brooks
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball
Lauren Rinehardt
Soccer, NCAA
Leah Amico
Softball, 3x Olympic Gold Medalist
Leena Lape
Softball, Track
Lesley Meyer
Soccer, NCAA
Lindsay Shoop
Rowing, Olympian
Linnea Saltz
Track & Field, NCAA Conference Champion
Lisa L. Rainsberger
Track & Field, Olympian
Boston Marathon Champion
Lynn Hatcher
Golf, NCAA
Macy Petty
Volleyball, NCAA
Maddie Pelfrey
Volleyball
Madelyn Sestak
Volleyball, NCCAA
Madi Kenyon
Track & Field, NCAA
Madisan DeBos
Track & Field, NCAA
Maggie Malone
Track & Field, Olympian, NCAA National Champion, Elite Athlete
Margaret Gasperson
Softball, NCAA
Margaret O’Neal Monteleone
Track & Field
Margo Knorr
Track & Field, NCAA
Margo Simpson
Lacrosse, NCAA
Margot Kaczorowski
Swimming, NCAA
Maria Blower
Cycling, Olympian
Maria Broaddus
Volleyball, NCAA
Mariah Burton Nelson
Basketball, Pro
Marion Clignet
Cycling, Olympian
Marshi Smith
Swimming, NCAA Champion
Mary Forr Szoch
Basketball, NCAA National Champion Runner-Up
Mary I. O’Connor
Rowing, Olympian
Mary Kate Marshall
Track & Field, NCAA
Mary Louise Kellogg Lyman
Rowing, Olympian
Mary T. Meagher
Swimming, Olympian
Megan Burke
Track & Field, 2-time NCAA Champion American Record Holder
Micki King
Diving, Olympian
Monique Lamoureux-Morando
Hockey, 3x Olympic Medalist
Nancy Hogshead-Makar
Swimming, Olympian
Nikki Stone
Freestyle Aerial Skiing, Olympic Gold Medalist
Olivia McNabb
Softball, Volleyball, Basketball
Olivia Williams
Softball
Patricia Spratlen Etem
Rowing, Olympian
Paula Scanlan
Swimming, NCAA
Payton McNabb
Volleyball, Softball
Payton Palmer
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball
Paytyn Barker
Softball
Rachel Carter
University of Northern Colorado, UNC Tour Troupe Dancer 02′
Raime Jones
Swimming, NCAA
Reigan ONeal
Basketball
Rhi Jeffrey
Swimming, Olympic Gold Medalist
Riley Scott
Swimming, All-American
Rylie Payne
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball
Sara Younger-Merrill
Rowing, Masters
Sarah Hokom
Disc Golf, World Champion
Sarah Parshall Perry
Softball
Sarah Powers-Barnhard
Volleyball, NCAA All-American, Team USA
Selina Soule
Track & Field, NCAA
Shannon Keeler
Lacrosse, NCAA Champion
Sheila Young Ochowicz
Speed Skating, Olympian
Shelby Kester
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball
Sky Taylor
Softball, Basketball
Sofia Van Arsdale
Track & Field, NCAA
Sue Walsh
Swimming, Olympian, NCAA/AIAW National Champion
Sydney Hickey
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball
Sydney Payne
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball
Taelyr Jackson
Softball, Track
Taylor Parkes Lane
Track and Cross-Country
Taylor S. Dolan
Alpine Skiing, NCAA
Taylor Silverman
Skateboarding, Professional
Tracy Evans
Freestyle Skiing, Olympian
Valerie McClain
Rowing, Olympic
Victoria Coley
Lacrosse, NCAA Club
Competition: Title IX, Male-Bodied Athletes, and the Threat To Women’s Sports, written and published by Independent Women’s Law Center and Independent Women’s Forum synthesize the science and explain the changing legal landscape of American sports. LEARN MORE
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