Senator Marshall Applauds Kansas Legislature for Protecting Girls’ Sports

(Washington, D.C., April 9, 2021) – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. today issued the following statement after the Kansas Legislature passed a bill banning efforts to allow biological boys to compete in girls’ sports:

“As a doctor and a former coach, I find it un-American to allow biological boys to compete against biological girls when it comes to athletics. Growing up, sports taught me that there was a level playing field and that we all had equal opportunity to compete and win,” said Senator Marshall. “Letting biological boys compete in biological girls’ high school and college sports is not equal, it doesn’t level the playing field, and it’s certainly not fair. I applaud the Kansas Legislature for their leadership to protect girls’ sports. While I want every person, regardless of sex, to have access to opportunity, we can’t be willing to push young women out of their own game in the process.”

Background:

In February, Senator Marshall joined Senator Mike Lee (UT) to introduce the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, legislation to protect athletic opportunities for female athletes. The legislation came just days after President Joe Biden issued an Executive Order forcing schools to allow student athletes to compete in sports based on their gender identity instead of their biological gender.

In March, Senator Marshall penned an op-ed for FOX News on this topic saying in part, “On the very first day of his presidency, Joe Biden took one giant leap backward for women’s rights when he issued an executive order forcing schools to allow student athletes to compete in sports based on their gender identity instead of their biological sex… While those who are transgender are entitled to their rights, so too are girls who are just looking for an opportunity to compete against their peers, the genetically female ones… There is nothing fair about President Biden’s executive order. It shows no common sense and will bring about the destruction of women’s sports.” You may click HERE or scroll below to read Senator Marshall’s op-ed in its entirety.

Sen. Roger Marshall: Biden’s gender discrimination executive order will destroy women’s sports

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D.

March 1, 2021

FOX News

On the very first day of his Presidency, Joe Biden took one giant leap backwards for women’s rights when he issued an Executive Order forcing schools to allow student athletes to compete in sports based on their gender identity instead of their biological sex. To put it simply, he made it possible for genetic boys to compete against girls.

Often the pinnacle of so many girls’ athletics experience in high school are the state competitions towards the end of each season. Take for instance the yearly state track meet in Kansas where hundreds of girls compete against each other to be the best in their event. They’ve trained most of their life for this moment: they’ve woken up at dawn to weight train, worked on technique refinement for hours on end, and ran miles upon miles for endurance training – overall putting umpteen hours of practice in. Now that President Biden’s Executive Order is in place, imagine that very athlete looks at the lane to her left and sees a genetic boy lined up next to her. 

Unfortunately, we’ve already seen this scenario play out on the state level. In Connecticut a young girl by the name of Selina Soule missed out on competing in the New England regionals when two genetic boys were allowed to compete against girls in the 100-yard dash. By finishing first and second, Ms. Soule finished outside of the threshold needed to advance and in turn was deprived of a shot at winning and possible exposure to college scouts and scholarship opportunities.

As an OBGYN, who has raised a daughter and coached countless girls in various sports, I have always stepped up for women, and always fought to make sure they get an equal opportunity. I find it unfair and quite frankly un-American that this new Administration is allowing biological boys to compete against biological girls in sports.

Growing up, sports taught me that there was a level playing field and that we all had equal opportunity to compete and win. Letting biological boys compete in biological girls’ high school and college sports is not equal, it doesn’t level the playing field, and it’s certainly not fair. The fastest female sprinter in the world has a lifetime record of 49.26 seconds for the 400-meter run. In 2018, nearly three hundred high-school boys in the U.S. alone recorded faster times. Does that seem fair to our daughters and granddaughters? And, if one takes into account hormone therapy, the playing field still isn’t leveled. A recent study by the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that even after two years of hormone therapy, biological boys still maintain significant advantages over girls including being 12 percent faster on the 1.5 mile-run.

This year we will celebrate the 49th anniversary of Title IX, which expanded civil rights for women and created opportunities for female athletes to compete. We should be focused on defending women’s rights – specifically women’s athletics – and not halting progress on historical efforts over the past half century that made it possible for girls to have equal opportunities as boys when it comes to sports.

For these reasons, I have joined my colleagues to introduce The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, legislation to protect athletic opportunities for female athletes. Our bill would remove the Title IX funding for schools that allow genetic boys to compete against girls. Additionally, for a number of reasons, I intend to vote against President Biden’s nominee, Miguel Cardona, to be U.S. Secretary of Education. At a recent hearing, I asked him about the issue and he was unwilling to provide alternatives or confirm he would not allow genetic boys to compete against girls in sports. It gives me great pause that this is the person President Biden is entrusting our kids with.

Regardless of sex, everyone should have access to opportunity and the ability to find their happiness. While those who are transgender are entitled to their rights, so too are girls who are just looking for an opportunity to compete against their peers, the genetically female ones.

What I learned in sports that was so important in my upbringing was there was a level playing field. That we all had equal opportunity to compete and win. And that if you work hard, stick with it, and play fair, you’ll be rewarded. There is nothing fair about President Biden’s Executive Order. It shows no common sense and will bring about the destruction of women’s sports.

Roger Marshall, M.D., represents Kansas in the U.S. Senate. Previously he was the Congressman for Kansas’ 1st District. Prior to Congress, Dr. Marshall was a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist in Great Bend, Kansas. He received his M.D. at the University Of Kansas School Of Medicine in 1987.

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