Stance Against Trans Women In Sport Gets Some Riverside County Support

PALM DESERT, CA — East Valley Republican Women Patriots, an independent Coachella Valley club that boasts more than 1,800 members and associate members, announced its support over the weekend for a U.S. House bill known as the "Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act."

If passed, the legislation — introduced in the House on Feb. 1 by Rep. Steube, W. Gregory (R-FL) and in the U.S. Senate on March 1 by Sen. Tuberville, Tommy (R-AL) — would prohibit school athletic programs from allowing those whose reproductive anatomy at birth was male to participate in programs for women or girls.

"We believe that biological men should not compete in girls' or women's sports," a released statement from East Valley Republican Women Patriots President Joy Miedecke read. "Hurting one group to assist another is not the American way. If necessary, there should be a separate category for biological men who believe they are female. At the heart of this sports debate, East Valley Republican Women Patriots promotes equality and justice for all."

Under the House version, the bill does not prohibit any males from training or practicing with women and/or girls as long workouts don't "deprive any female of corresponding opportunities or benefits."

Both the House and Senate versions of the legislation argue that allowing trans women to compete against women born with female anatomy is a violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs or activities, including in public elementary and secondary schools and in colleges and universities.

Transgender rights have become a political flashpoint.

"Allowing biological males to participate in women's sports is a complete affront to the hardworking women and girls who have spent their lives training to achieve their dreams. It's simple: biological males have no place in women's sports," Steube said in February. "Last Spring, Sarasota's own, Emma Weyant, was robbed of her NCAA Championship in the 500 Freestyle by a biological male, Lia Thomas. Floridians and Americans across the country are rightly outraged at what has become of women's sports."

With the March 2022 win, Thomas became the first openly transgender athlete to garner an NCAA Division I national championship in any sport. Her winning time in the women's 500-yard freestyle was 4:33.24. Weyant, who is an Olympic silver medalist, came in second just 1.75 seconds behind Thomas. Thomas did not break any records at the NCAA event.

Following the race, Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis issued a proclamation declaring Weyant the "rightful winner" although he has no authority over any NCAA championship.

In June 2022, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) voted to bar all transgender athletes from competing in professional women's swimming, with the exception of athletes who "can establish to FINA's comfortable satisfaction that they have not experienced any part of male puberty beyond Tanner Stage 2 (of puberty) or before age 12, whichever is later."