Category: Press Releases

NORTH DAKOTA – Independent Women’s Network (IWN) praises U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) for cosponsoring Independent Women’s Voice’s Women’s Bill of Rights (WBOR), which if passed, would protect biological sex as a distinct legal category. This Congress, the Women’s Bill of Rights has been introduced in both the U.S. House (H.Res. 115) and U.S. Senate (S.Res. 53).

Hailing from North Dakota, Senator Cramer gave his stamp of approval for the legal definition of the word, “woman”, and other sex-based terms that are vital in protecting single-sex spaces and activities. If signed into law, the Women’s Bill of Rights will act as legal protection of women-only spaces, such as rape and crisis centers, sororities, sports teams, and changing areas. 

“I am grateful to Senator Cramer for supporting the Women’s Bill of Rights. Every woman in North Dakota should be glad that our senator knows what a woman is and is willing to stand up for truth, commonsense and women,” said Margo Knorr, IWN Chapter Leader, North Dakota.

Independent Women’s Voice applauds Senator Cramer’s support for the Women’s Bill of Rights and looks ahead to additional supporters in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House.

WBOR BACKGROUND:

In March 2022, Independent Women’s Voice, Independent Women’s Law Center (IWLC), and Women’s Liberation Front (WoLF) collaborated to draft model legislation known as the Women’s Bill of Rights. The U.S. Chapter of Women’s Declaration International (WDI, USA) also endorses WBOR.

The Women’s Bill of Rights has gained vast support among the public, various organizations and groups across the political spectrum. Nebraska, most recently, became the fourth state to establish a Women’s Bill of Rights, following a recent executive order by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and legislation adopted in Kansas and Tennessee. A wave of sixteen attorneys general announced their support for the Women’s Bill of Rights this year.

In Congress, WBOR was first introduced by Congresswoman Lesko (AZ-08) and Senator Hyde-Smith (R-MS) in the 117th Congress, and again in the 118th Congress.

Read the Women’s Bill of Rights HERE.

Sign the Women’s Bill of Rights, click HERE.

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www.iwnetwork.com 

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.

DENTON, TX – On Monday, August 7, Independent Women’s Voice (IWV) and the Independent Women’s Network (IWN) Dallas and Austin Chapters will join Texas Governor Greg Abbott for a ceremonial signing of the Save Women’s Sports Act at 2 p.m. CT. The event will celebrate the significance of this legislation and what it means for Texas women and girls. The signing will be held in the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame, which recognizes women who have attained outstanding achievements and ensures female contributions are preserved in the state’s legacy. 

The Save Women’s Sports Act (S.B. 15), sponsored by Senator Mayes Middleton and Representative Valoree Swanson, was signed into law by Abbott on June 15, 2023. The bill protects the integrity of women’s sports by prohibiting biological men from competing in women’s sports at Texas colleges and universities.  

Riley Gaines and Paula Scanlan, both spokeswomen and advisors for Independent Women’s Voice, will deliver remarks championing Governor Abbott’s leadership and recognizing him for taking bold steps to stand up for women and protect women’s sports. Numerous Texas female athletes will also join them, including 20x All-American swimmer and University of Texas Hall of Fame recipient Katy Arris Wilson. 

In March, IWV advisor and 12x All-American swimmer Riley Gaines testified before the Texas State Senate Committee on State Affairs to advocate for the protection of women’s sports by prohibiting biological men from competing against female athletes at Texas colleges and universities.

“I am thankful to Governor Greg Abbott for supporting women and girls at all levels of competitive sport — including collegiate athletes,” said Riley Gaines. By signing the Save Women’s Sports Act, Gov.Abbott has sent a powerful message to Texans and to all Americans that we must protect the female category in sport if women and girls are to have equal athletic opportunities required by law.”

Paula Scanlan, Lia Thomas’ former UPenn teammate, said, “I am so happy that Governor Abbott has taken the stance to protect women and girls sports, and I am proud to stand with him as we celebrate this legislation. The Save Women’s Sports Act is necessary in all states, and I am very thankful that Texas has taken steps to provide fairness and safety for female athletes.” 

Details:

REMARKS FROM:

• Governor Greg Abbott
• Riley Gaines, IWV Spokeswoman and Advisor & 12x All-American Swimmer 
• Paula Scanlan, IWV Spokeswoman and Advisor & Former NCAA Swimmer
  

WHAT: Save Women’s Sports Act Ceremonial Signing & Press Conference

WHEN: Monday, August 7, 2023, at 2 p.m. CT (Media setup begins at 1:30 p.m.)

WHERE: 

Texas Women’s Hall of Fame – Texas Woman’s University

Blagg-Huey Library

307 Administration Dr

Denton, TX 76201

*Mult-box provided

To RSVP, email [email protected]

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www.iwv.org 

Independent Women’s Voice is an advocacy 501(c)(4) that fights for women and families by effectively expanding support among women, independents, and millennials for policy solutions that aren’t just well intended, but actually enhance freedom, opportunities, and well-being.

www.iwnetwork.com

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.

AUSTIN, TX – Independent Women’s Network (IWN) today issued the following statement after Eventbrite banned an event page, called “Let Women Speak Austin.” Eventbrite deemed the IWN sponsored event against community guidelines for perpetuating “hateful, dangerous, or violent content.” In fact, the event was planned to give women the opportunity to share their opinions and lived experiences, and to advocate for women’s rights and sex-based protections.

The email from Eventbrite Trust & Safety reads as follows:

“We have determined that your event is not permitted on the Eventbrite platform as it violates our Community Guidelines and Terms of Service, specifically our policy on Hateful, Dangerous, or Violent Content and Events. As a result, your event has been unpublished. Please be aware that severe or repeated violations of our guidelines may result in the suspension or termination of your Eventbrite account.”

Independent Women’s Network’s Austin Chapter Leader, Michelle Evans, said in response to Eventbrite banning this event page: “Eventbrite’s team of Trust and Safety experts politely communicated to me that they were capitulating to the trans ideologues, the loud minority who are perpetually offended by women speaking out against their intrusion into our sports and private spaces. A simple demand — Let Women Speak — has been intentionally misrepresented by Eventbrite as hate speech. The idea of adult human females gathering in the public square to openly discuss sex-based rights has been deemed by the ticketing platform to be a danger to society and worthy of cancellation.”

Evans added, “Hear this, Eventbrite: women will not be silenced. The event will go on as scheduled and the crowd of women ready to give a public record of their dissent grows with every retweet about the deplatforming.”

“It is disgusting that platforms like Eventbrite, which was founded by a woman who serves as its CEO, are smearing women, including sexual assault survivors, sharing their concerns about the loss of safe spaces as involved in ‘hate speech’. This assault on women — on female prisoners, athletes, sexual assault victims — is what is hateful. Eventbrite’s actions and lack of response is the epitome of cancel culture, and showcases bigotry and hatred towards women. Independent Women’s Network is dedicated to standing up for women’s rights and for free speech across the board. This censorship must end,” said Carrie Lukas, president at Independent Women’s Forum.

Independent Women’s Network is the national grassroots community activist arm of Independent Women’s Voice (IWV). 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. IWN has 23 chapters around the country and an online community of more than 32,000 IWN members.

Eventbrite, co-founded by female CEO Julia Hartz, has claimed to celebrate and empower women in the past, and bills itself as a platform “that allows anyone to create, share, find and attend events that fuel their passions.” She has made comments, like, “Let’s keep celebrating women. In this curated collection, @Eventbrite’s experts showcase virtual events made for anyone to learn, celebrate, inspire change, and empower women everywhere. #WomensHistoryMonth.”

Such a platform should be in line with the mission of IWN and Evan’s “Let Women Speak Austin” event, which will allow mothers and community members to come together in defense of sex-based protections. Instead, the company has now silenced women by shutting down an event post intended to raise awareness about the harmful effects of gender ideology – the same ideology which has caused Eventbrite to contribute to the erasure of women. 

Independent Women’s Network has written a letter to Eventbrite on free speech and women’s right to stand up for our opportunities, spaces, and dignity. The letter can be read HERE.

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www.iwnetwork.com 

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.