FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2023
Contact: Laura Macklem
[email protected]
BILL TO PROTECT WOMEN IN SPORTS PASSES SENATE, NC VALUES URGES NCGA TO ADD COLLEGE PROVISION
The North Carolina Senate passed SB 631, “The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” today, after the House version of the bill, HB 574, passed yesterday. The bill bans biological boys from participating in girls’ sports teams in middle and high school. Unlike the House version, Senate Bill 631 does not protect women who play sports at the college and university level from unfairly competing against biological males.
“I thank the Senate for protecting girls at the middle and high school level from lost opportunities and unsafe playing conditions by banning boys from their teams; girls deserve to compete in sports on a level playing field. And now we urge the Senate to include protections for all females by including collegiate women as well,” said NC Values Executive Director Tami Fitzgearld. “In college, the physical advantages males have are even more pronounced, and financial risks of losing scholarships and suffering injuries are greater for women forced to compete against biological males. Entire teams lose out as girls are cheated out of opportunities on the playing field. Add to that the emotional shock of sharing locker rooms with fully intact biological males.”
Champion swimmer Riley Gaines testified yesterday that she was denied the trophy in the NCAA finals even though she tied with Lia Thomas, a trans identifying male swimmer. Gaines said she and her teammates from the University of Kentucky suffered emotional distress when they were forced to share a locker room with Thomas who was fully exposed and watched as they undressed.
“We thank the Senate bill sponsors, Senators Kevin Corbin, Joyce Krawiec, and Vickie Sawyer, for sponsoring the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act”, and we look forward to a final bill that will protect all female athletes.” said Fitzgerald.
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