Fairness in Girls' Sports
I’ve been trying for three General Assembly sessions to pass a Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act.
A poll last year by The New York Times found that 79% of Americans believe men should be barred from competing in women’s sports.
The breakdown includes 94% of Republican respondents, 64% of Independent voters and 67% of Democrats.
With such a high percentage of citizens in favor of barring males from competing in women’s sports, you have to wonder why this would not persuade elected officials to act.
This tells me that those elected officials are not persuaded by the majority of their constituents, but by something or someone else.
I do not understand the mindset that fails to protect girls’ sports when the inclusion of males in women’s sports harms female athletes by:
• Decreasing the chances of female athletic success
• Taking away roster spots, and playing time
• The loss of the very few scholarships available for female athletes
• Increased chances of injuries in some sports
Add to that list the humiliation girls face having to undress to change in lockerrooms with biologically intact males and to share bathroom facilities.
Elected officials with daughters, grand daughters and sisters should especially be sensitive to wanting to protect their privacy.
A majority of signatures is needed for a bill to be released from committee.
In the seven-member Senate Education Committee four signatures are needed.
Republicans Eric Buckson and Dave Lawson are co-sponsors of SB 215.
The signatures of two Democrats are needed.
The Democrats on the committee are Senators Laura Sturgeon Elizabeth Lockman, Stephanie Hansen, Nicole Poore and David P. Sokola.
I hope voters will contact these senators and urge them to allow SB 215 out of committee for a full vote on the Senate floor.
For the Senate Education Committee members, their email addresses are as follows:
- Chair: laura.sturgeon@delaware.gov
- Vice Chair: elizabeth.lockman@delaware.gov
- Stephanie.Hansen@delaware.gov
- nicole.Poore@delaware.gov
- david.Sokola@delaware.gov
- Eric.Buckson@delaware.gov
- Dave.Lawson@delaware.gov