Hinds Today

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith from Mississippi has joined forces with Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama to reintroduce the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. This legislation aims to preserve Title IX protections for female athletes by ensuring fair competition in women's sports.

The bill, which Tuberville reintroduced with support from the new Republican-led leadership team, seeks to restrict federal funding for schools or educational organizations that allow males to participate in women's sporting events. This move counters policies previously promoted by the Biden administration.

Senator Hyde-Smith expressed her concerns about recent efforts to redefine gender, stating, "Over the past four years, we’ve seen a concerted and completely misguided effort to redefine gender in ways that disregard biological reality and threaten the significant strides women and girls have made since the passage of Title IX." She emphasized the importance of maintaining fair competition for women and girls.

Senator Tuberville highlighted public support for their cause, noting that "70% of Americans agree—men don’t belong in women’s sports or locker rooms." He also expressed his commitment to protecting these rights for future generations, including his soon-to-be-born granddaughter.

The proposed act would ensure that Title IX provisions define gender based on reproductive biology and genetics at birth. It would also prohibit recipients of federal funding from facilitating athletic programs allowing males to compete in women's events.

Hyde-Smith has been a consistent advocate for Title IX rights, having supported similar legislation in previous congressional sessions. The Biden administration had withdrawn a proposed rule related to transgender athletes following lawsuits and Donald Trump's election victory.

Organizations such as Independent Women’s Voice, Concerned Women for America, and Heritage Action for America have endorsed this legislative effort in the 119th Congress.