The national conversation around biological males competing in women’s sports is shifting significantly. This issue has evolved into a prominent topic of public debate, with many highlighting themes of fairness, safety, and the integrity of women’s sports.
Female athletes are being harmed by biological males identifying as transgender who are allowed to compete on their teams. In MA, not only are they getting knocked out of their ranking but as in the recent case of one Dighton-Rehoboth female athlete, are getting their teeth knocked out too.
In recent years, the rhetoric around this issue has become more critical. Public figures, athletes, and policymakers have increasingly voiced concerns about the potential impact to the fairness and safety in girls’ and women’s sports. Even Seth Moulton, a U.S. Representative from Salem, who has historically affirmed diverse sexual and gender identifications, recently stated, “I have two little girls, I don’t want them getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete, but as a Democrat, I’m supposed to be afraid to say that.”
Amazingly, 23 states (almost half of the country!) have introduced or passed legislation banning males from competing in female sports categories at the high school and collegiate levels.
President Trump has also committed to banning men from women’s sports.
And in MA, local school districts are beginning to take action to protect girls in high school sports. Earlier this year, the Dighton-Rehoboth school committee unanimously approved a policy that allows coaches and student-athletes to choose whether to compete against teams that include athletes of the opposite sex. The policy states that no coach or student-athlete of a single-sex team shall be penalized by the district with the loss of playing time, starting status, or other penalties for forfeiting or refusing to play against a team that includes athletes of the opposite sex. In September, the coach of the same district announced that the female field hockey team would be forfeiting an upcoming game against Somerset Berkley Regional High School due to a male player on the opposing team.
MFI hopes these commonsense laws and policies continue to increase not only across the nation, but right here in the Commonwealth.
If you haven’t done so already sign our petition demanding that the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association amend their rules to protect girls in sports.
If you are a MA school committee member and would like to implement a policy protecting the female athletes in your district reach out to MFI by clicking the button below.
Will you join us in the fight to protect girls’ sports? Help us continue to advocate for the safety of female athletes in the Commonwealth with a generous donation today!
