Bismarck, ND — Independent Women’s Network (IWN), the national grassroots community activist arm of Independent Women’s Voice, was represented on Capitol Hill this week by IWN Bismarck Chapter Leader Margo Knorr for National Girls & Women in Sports Day. Knorr, a 4x NCAA All-American in the high jump and former member of the National Championship Indoors Team at North Dakota State University, met with lawmakers to address the growing threats female athletes who are being forced to compete against biological males face and to advocate for protecting the integrity of women’s sports.
Knorr, who was joined by three other female athletes, including 12x NCAA All-American swimmer Riley Gaines, was invited to the U.S. Capitol by Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy to participate in a panel discussion on the discrimination women athletes face in sports today and what lawmakers can do to fight for preserving fairness and equity in sports.
“Women’s track and field provided so many opportunities for me as a young girl. I want to make sure those opportunities are in place for my daughters and their daughters,” said IWN Bismarck Chapter Leader Margo Knorr. “It was a privilege to be included in Speaker McCarthy’s panel. Moderating the panel, Speaker McCarthy was able to draw out the truth of what these young women have been through. It is legitimately frightening that the media has not been more forthcoming with the public. The lies being told about the women’s sports bills that will serve to protect women are perpetuating the abuse of women. The regressive and abusive tactics being used to silence women is nothing short of appalling.”
Earlier that morning, with the support of Independent Women’s Network, Representatives Greg Steube and Claudia Tenney introduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. Knorr was escorted to the House Floor to witness the introduction. The bill amends Title IX to strengthen protections for female athletes and make clear that allowing biological males to take awards, roster spots, scholarships, or spots at a school from female athletes is discriminatory and illegal.
Click here for the link to watch the full panel discussion in the U.S. Capitol.
Photos from National Girls & Women in Sports Day on Capitol Hill:
Before introducing the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act on the House Floor, Rep. Claudia Tenney, co-sponsor of the bill, joined female athletes outside the Capitol: Independent Women Forum’s Spokeswoman Riley Gaines, Independent Women’s Network Chapter Leaders Megan Burke (Colorado) and Margo Knorr (North Dakota).
U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy with athletes Margo Knorr, Riley Gaines, Macy Petty, and Chloe Satterfield for panel discussion on protecting the integrity of women’s sports.
North Dakota’s Margo Knorr speaks during Speaker McCarthy’s National Girls & Women in Sports Day Speaker Panel.
Margo Knorr with Representative Lisa McClain (R-MI), cosponsor of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.
Margo Knorr with fellow athletes and panelists in the U.S. Capitol for National Girls & Women in Sports Day.
IWN Background:
IWN was created to build a supportive community for women and to give them the tools they need to make a positive difference in their neighborhoods and our country.
An engaging and growing community of independently-minded women work together to advance shared principles through chapter gatherings and the IWN online movement. Membership to IWN opens access to message boards, curated news, smart content, a resource center, exclusive events, and an action center.
Members of the community who are interested in joining Independent Women’s Network North Dakota chapter should email IWN Membership Director Jenny Avis ([email protected]) or visit iwnetwork.com for more information.
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Independent Women’s Network, a project of Independent Women’s Voice, in partnership with Independent Women’s Forum, is a positive, supportive community of engaged, informed, and activated women working together to inspire, interact, influence, and have impact.
