Ruling: Boys in Girls Sports Violates Federal Civil Rights Law
Great news! Today, the U.S. Department of Education ruled that a
policy letting boys play in girls' sports is a violation of
Title IX, a federal law that ensures that no one can be denied equal
access to educational opportunities on the basis of sex. This is a
significant win for female athletes across America: it sends a message
that fairness in girls' sports does matter.
We've been arguing this on the political front lines in Idaho,
where we helped pass the Fairness in Women's Sports Act, which
ensures that only girls play in girls' sports. Fairness in
Women's Sports is based on the idea that sports should happen on
a level playing field - and that letting biological boys play in
girls' sports is decidedly unfair. Males have numerous
physiological advantages that make it hard or impossible for even the
top female athletes to compete against. That's why this law
ensures that only girls play in girls' sports.
As you know, the ACLU recently sued Idaho over that law, claiming in
their initial filing that Fairness in Women's Sports is a
violation of Title IX. Today's ruling from the U.S. Department
of Education suggests otherwise and sends a supportive message for
female athletes across the nation.
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It's a message that together, we can Save Girls' Sports.
Check out our full press release below!
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2020
Family Policy Alliance logo
BREAKING: U.S. Department of Education Rules Letting Boys Compete in
Girls' Athletic Divisions Violates Federal Civil Rights Law
The ruling is timely as the ACLU has recently sued over a related
issue in Idaho
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado - Family Policy Alliance applauds the
Department of Education for today announcing that letting boys compete
in girls' sports divisions violates Title IX, a federal law that
ensures no one can be denied equal access to educational opportunities
on the basis of sex. The ruling from the Department's Office for
Civil Rights (OCR) is in response to a Connecticut policy that permits
boys to compete in girls' sports if they feel that they are
girls.
The Department's ruling is timely, as the ACLU recently
challenged an Idaho law called Fairness in Women's Sports which,
unlike the Connecticut policy, ensures that boys cannot compete in
girls' sports. The law, signed just this spring, is the first of
its kind in the nation.
In their initial filing, the ACLU expressed concern that Fairness in
Women's Sports was a violation of Title IX - but
today's ruling suggests otherwise.
Blaine Conzatti, Director of Advocacy at Family Policy Alliance of
Idaho, shepherded Fairness in Women's Sports through the Idaho
legislature and to the Governor's desk. Upon hearing
today's news, he commented: "We've been saying for
years that letting men compete in women's high school and college
sports violates the spirit of Title IX."
Title IX played a significant role in elevating women's sports
from recreation-only - or non-existent - status, to the
competitive environment it is today. According to the Women's
Sports Foundation, "Before Title IX, one in 27 girls played
sports. Today that number is two in five."
Added Conzatti, "This is why the Fairness in Sports Act that
becomes law this year in Idaho is so necessary. The Department of
Education ruling today makes clear that protecting athletic
opportunities for girls means that biological boys need to compete
against other boys, not girls."
The Department's decision is an acknowledgement that letting
biological boys play in girls' sports is decidedly unfair: men
have numerous physiological advantages over women, such as greater
muscle mass and cardiovascular capacity, that make it hard or
impossible for even the top female athletes to compete in their own
sport. Connecticut's policy, notes the Department, has
"denied female student-athletes athletic benefits and
opportunities, including advancing to the finals in events, higher
level competitions, awards, medals, recognition, and the possibility
of greater visibility to colleges and other benefits."
Autumn Leva, a former female runner and Vice President of Strategy at
Family Policy Alliance, also added, "Both the ACLU's
challenge to Idaho's common-sense law and the policies in states
like Connecticut that permit boys to take over girls' sports are
a slap in the face to Title IX. The Department of Education today
clearly made the right decision to save girls' sports and
preserve the integrity of Title IX. It's sadly ironic that the
ACLU once championed girls sports through Title IX-now they want
to turn boys into girls' sports champions."
Family Policy Alliance thanks Alliance Defending Freedom for raising
the matter before the U.S. Department of Education, and for this week
filing a motion to intervene in the Idaho case, as well.
Media Contact: Robert Noland, (719) 308-2822,
[email protected]
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