Madison – Representative Barbara Dittrich (R – Oconomowoc) issued the following statement regarding the reintroduction of the Save Women’s Sports Act:
“On March 2, 2021, I held a news conference with legislators, parents, and student athletes to bring attention to the issue of saving women’s athletics for biological females. At that time, the name Lia Thomas was not widely known nor had pictures showing the side-by-side physical size differences between the genders been widely circulated.
“Since that time, more women have been injured by biological males competing in things like volleyball, Payton McNabb of North Carolina being a recent example in the past year. Additionally, women continue to be erased by having their lifetime of hard work being stolen by biological males in athletics winning top podium spots.
“Title IX, created in 1972, has been preeminent standard set forth by the federal government in recognizing the biological distinction between men and women, and the need to assure women and girls are not discriminated against in educational programs or activities. Today, I am proud to continue my stand with parents and athletes throughout this state who are fighting to ensure that women and girls have an equal opportunity to compete on a level playing field in athletics.
The “Save Women’s Sports Act” protects the athletic excellence of girls and women competing in sports, while also upholding Title IX’s original intent based on the general biological distinction between men and women athletes based on sex. The bills introduced today would afford three categories of sports competition based on person’s biological sex with an additional co-ed category allowing for all to participate.”
In a Marquette University Law Poll released on March 29, 2023, 70% of respondents say athletes should be required to participate on teams that match the gender they were assigned at birth, while 30% oppose that requirement. Additionally, this year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 734, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, to protect female athletes and the integrity of women’s sports.
