As a female Division I athlete, I have felt first-hand the injustice of being forced to compete alongside a male in my own sport. When I tried to protest swimming with Lia Thomas, formerly known as Will, I was met only with silence by the NCAA and my school administration. My teammates and I had no choice but to watch Lia set records in our events and, without our consent or considering our privacy, we were forced to change in front of Lia up to 18 times per week in the women’s locker room.
Since Title IX was passed in 1972, women have been promised federal protection against sex-based discrimination, including in sports. Today, on February 7th 2024, we proudly celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day and the decades of accomplishments and hard work of female athletes that wouldn’t have been possible without Title IX.
While celebrating, we are also raising big concerns and taking big actions because that progress is under great threat. In addition to governing bodies of sports — like the NCAA — prioritizing men over women in women’s sports, the Biden administration is illegally rewriting Title IX — a blow to equal opportunity that will deeply undermine women’s sports.
The consequences of the administration's actions will chip away at the female category of sport and destroy female athletes' chances of competing, and winning awards and athletic scholarships.
Friend, take a stand for women today on National Girls and Women in Sports Day for fair treatment and equal athletic opportunity, privacy, and safety.
