NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 1.16.25
Contact: Mary Ellen Siegler, [email protected]
Direct: 781-557-8326
Massachusetts Family Institute Announces Rally and Press Conference for Protect Female Athletes Bill
It’s time to restore fairness and safety to girls’ sports.
Boston, MA – On Wednesday, February 5th, 2025, the Massachusetts Family Institute will host a rally and press conference at the Massachusetts State House in Room 222 to show support for HD.297/SD.627, An Act to Ensure Safety and Fairness in School Sports, a bill aimed at protecting female athletes from unfair and unsafe competition.
The rally and press conference will take place from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM and will focus on the urgent need to safeguard girls from injury and ensure fairness in sports. Dighton-Rehoboth school committee member Katie Aubin, who spearheaded the school district policy that inspired this bill, will speak at the event. Representative John Gaskey, one of the bill’s sponsors will also address the gathering. Following the featured speakers, the press will have the opportunity to ask questions.
Immediately after the rally and press conference, attendees will be encouraged to meet with their legislators from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM to ask them to support this important legislation.
The press and public are invited to register to attend the event. Click the button below to register.
This bill is vital because it addresses the pressing issue of allowing male athletes to compete in girls’ school sports when there is no equivalent boys’ team or when a boy identifies as a girl. An Act to Ensure Safety and Fairness in School Sports would give athletes and coaches the legal right to opt out of competitions against the opposite sex without fear of discipline.
The bill’s objectives include:
Keeping Girls Safe: Allowing male athletes to compete in girls’ sports has led to numerous injuries across the country. From a male field hockey player injuring a female opponent in Swampscott to a female volleyball player suffering a traumatic brain injury in North Carolina, safety has been sacrificed for the sake of “equality.” This bill would empower female athletes to sit out of games against male competitors without facing shame or discipline.
Ensuring Fair Competition: Boys have significant physical advantages over girls, such as greater muscle mass, bone density, and cardiovascular strength. In Massachusetts, boys on girls’ teams have dominated competitions, giving an unfair advantage. This bill ensures that female athletes have the option to sit out if they feel the competition is unfair.
Empowering Coaches: Coaches will be able to protect their athletes and ensure fair competition by opting out of games against male players without fear of professional consequences. This protection is especially important as coaches are often in the best position to advocate for their players’ safety and fairness.
Protecting girls’ sports in Massachusetts starts with giving female athletes the right to opt out of dangerous and unfair competitions. Choosing to participate in school sports should never mean consenting to severe injuries or stolen championships.
Take action now and ask your legislators to support this crucial bill! Use our Action Center to email or call your elected officials by clicking the button below. Read our legislative brief to learn more about the Protect Female Athletes Bill.
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