Arizona House Passes Bill to Protect Women’s Sports from Male Athletes

The “Save Women’s Sports Act” cleared the Arizona House of Representatives this week on narrow, 31-29 vote along party lines. The bill is intended to protect the integrity of women’s sports by barring biological males from competing in events specifically designated for women.

The bill, known as HB 2706, was introduced by Representative Nancy Barto (R-15) in January. “Whether someone is a sports fan or not, most view this as a matter of basic fairness,” Barto stated in a press release at the time. “Female student athletes should not be forced to compete in a sport against biological males, who possess inherent physiological advantages. When this is allowed, it discourages female participation in athletics and, worse, it can result in women and girls being denied crucial educational and financial opportunities,” she concluded.

Democrats in the Arizona House, however, believe the bill discriminates against transgender athletes. State Representative Daniel Hernandez, Jr. (D-2) denounced the bill’s passage on Twitter: “Today is sad day for Arizona. After almost 6 hours of debate an anti-trans bill was passed in the house. 2706 is not pro woman and it is bad for AZ and bad for business,” he wrote.

The results, however, of allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports are readily apparent. In Connecticut, for example, where three high school females are suing the state’s athletic commission over this issue, males competing in women’s track and field are dominating. Cece Telfer, a boy suffering from sexual identity disorder, was allowed to switch from men’s track to women’s track. His state ranking in college in the 400-meter hurdles on the men’s side in 2016 and 2017 was 212th and 433rd, respectively. On the women’s side, Telfer took the Division II national championship in the women’s 400-meter hurdles. And Telfer is one of several boys who have dominated girls’ track and field events in Connecticut. The girls in that lawsuit are represented by Alliance Defending Freedom.

The Center for Arizona Policy, a Focus-affiliated public policy organization headed up by Cathi Herrod, explains why bills like HB 2706 are important.

“Forcing women to compete with male athletes robs women of equal opportunities. Every male that takes a place on a girls’ team displaces a deserving girl of her shot at a title. And every male who wins a women’s title steals it from a deserving female athlete, and the opportunities that come with winning – such as a college scholarship.”

Unfortunately for girls in sports, transgender ideology has replaced the commonsense understanding about the physiological differences between male and female. That’s why six other states are considering bills similar to Arizona’s.

The Arizona bill is set to go to the state senate next. Republicans control the upper chamber, 17 to 13. And Gov. Ducey is a Republican. We’ll follow this bill and let you know what happens.