‘Fairness in Women’s Sports’ bill aims to protect female athletes

CARSON CITY, Nev. (KOLO) – A group of Nevada lawmakers is working on a bill called “Fairness in Women’s Sports”.

It would effectively separate players based on the sex they were assigned at birth, except for coed games.

More and more people are speaking out about player safety after witnessing a Washoe County high school transgender volleyball player deliver strong blows to the volleyball. One play, shared with KOLO 8 News by @icons_women via X formerly known as Twitter, captures the ball violently knocking a player on her back after hitting her directly in her face.

According to Marshi Smith who is the cofounder the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), it’s unfair for female athletes to compete with others who were identified as males at birth.

“We try to educate the public and build awareness on the reality of how pervasive this is across all levels of sports,” said Smith.

Some parents are concerned because they say the Transgender Participation Position, adopted April 6, 2016 and enforced in the Washoe County School District, is putting their daughters at risk of injury.

“There are many parents whose daughters are competing in Washoe County volleyball right now who are outraged, don’t know what to do but are also fearful of coming forward and even speaking out in the safety of their daughters which is really tragic,” Smith said.

Icons has thousands of members across the United States and nearly 25,000 followers on its X account, formerly known as Twitter.

“We know from first hand accounts from athletes reaching out to us desperate for help and awareness about what they were going through,” Smith said.

Nevada Assemblyman Bert Gurr of District 33 represents Elko, Ely, and five counties.

He says the bill he’s drafting would separate players based on the sex they were assigned at birth if it becomes law.

It was first introduced in 2023 as AB374, but he says it was blocked by every Democrat in Nevada, even though it was supported by every Republican lawmaker in the State.

“It’s just scary for a lot of these girls to go into a locker room with a fully developed biological male and have to undress with them and be there. I’ve heard all sorts of stories and I truly think we need to respect those young ladies’ rights,” Gurr said. “I truly don’t want to hurt any transgender people in this. This has nothing to do with one side of the other. This has to do with what’s right and fair. Title 9 was built so women could have their own sports and I think that’s where we ought to keep it,” he continued.

KOLO 8 News Anchor, Noah Bond asked Gurr, “Is a transgender female or a biological male physically the same as a biological female?”

“I’m not a doctor but I’m going to say in my experience absolutely not. Boys are definitely stronger, bigger, they have bigger hearts, they have bigger esophagus. their muscle mass is different. Their bone structure is different. There is no way a biological male should be competing against a female in my estimation,” Gurr responded.

However, Dr. Allen Ratliff who teaches a course on gender and sexuality at the University of Nevada and empowers students to address marginalization and vulnerability has a different point of view.

“What we do know from the science about transgender bodies is that once a transgender woman has been taking puberty blockers and hormones for one to two years then her performance outcomes are pretty similar if not the same as cisgender women,” Dr. Ratliff said.

Dr. Ratliff says looking at the world from the point of view of a transgender athlete changes everything. “There’s a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about transgender people and if folks have the opportunity to talk about it and learn about it, that might help them make more informed decisions.”

Dr. Ratliff says the pressure to be something other than what a developing teens feels inside can be emotionally crippling and being included with peers is life changing.

“We know that when transgender people are included they’re able to participate in school. they’re able to participate in sports. They’re able to participate in their community lives, that improves their mental health and it prevents some of the negative things that we see experienced by transgender young people. So just to be clear, transgender youth experience the highest rate of depression and suicide of any known group of young people. Any. So, if we’re thinking about whose vulnerable here we’re really talking about transgender young people being vulnerable,” Dr. Ratliff teaches.

KOLO 8 News Noah Bond posed a question for Smith, “Some people would say that your stance and policy is hateful because it’s keeping transgender players from being in a place where they feel loved and belong. What is your response to that?”

“Women and girls, coaches, athletes, and parents do not need to apologize in any way for defending fair treatment and fair competition for their daughters. There is nothing shameful for standing up for the rights of women and girls in sports,” Smith replied.

Breaking free of restricting stereotypes or ending unfairness in female sports? Empowering transgender athletes with peers to reduce suicide rates or endangering young female athletes like University of Nevada volleyball players are saying? Two paths society is willing to explore and debate, but it seems only one can prevail.

Gurr expects to have the “Fairness in Women’s Sports” bill drafted in December of 2024 or the first of January in 2025.

If you support separating athletes based on the sex they were assigned at birth let Gurr know by emailing him at bert.gurr@asm.state.nv.us.

If you support transgender athletes playing where they feel most comfortable, email transgender advocate Jessica Munger at jessica@silverstateequality.org. She can get your opinion to Democratic lawmakers in Nevada.

Copyright 2024 KOLO. All rights reserved.