Skip to main content
Card Image
Track athletes Alanna Smith, Chelsea Mitchell, and Selina Soule.

US House passes bill protecting women's sports

Thursday, Apr 20, 2023

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Christiana Kiefer regarding the U.S. House’s passage Thursday of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which protects women’s sports by affirming that allowing males to compete on women’s teams violates Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 for federally funded schools and colleges:

“Girls shouldn’t be spectators in their own sports. The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act reaffirms the vital protections for women’s sports guaranteed by Title IX, ensuring that women and girls truly have equal athletic opportunities. Women fought long and hard to remedy inequality in athletics, and allowing males to compete in girls’ sports reverses 50 years of advances secured for women under Title IX. As we continue to see education officials, sports governing bodies, and the Biden administration undermine Title IX by pretending biological differences are irrelevant or non-existent, we are grateful that the U.S. House has taken this important step to ensure that Title IX’s purpose is upheld. We commend Rep. Steube for introducing this measure and Speaker McCarthy and Chairwoman Foxx for prioritizing this important legislation so women and girls in all 50 states have the chance to experience the thrill of victory and the lifelong benefits that flow from athletic achievements.”

The following quote may be attributed to ADF client and track-and-field athlete Selina Soule, formerly of Glastonbury High School in Connecticut:

“I was forced to compete against two biological males in track and field in Connecticut. I want to ensure no other girl experiences the emotional pain and lost opportunities I experienced in high school. There are clear biological differences between men and women; I experienced that firsthand, which is why I’m very grateful for the U.S. House passing this bill.”

  • Pronunciation guide: Kiefer (KEE’-fur)

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.

# # #


Commentary


Related Resources

ABOUT Christiana Kiefer

Christiana Kiefer serves as senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, where she is a key member of the Center for Conscience Initiatives. Since joining ADF in 2012, Kiefer has worked to protect women's and girls' sports and has defended the bodily privacy rights of students. She has also worked to protect the constitutionally protected freedom of churches, Christian schools, and Christian ministries to exercise their faith without government interference. Kiefer earned her J.D. in 2010 from Oak Brook College of Law and Government Policy, where she graduated first in her class and served as a teaching assistant in criminal law. Also in 2010, Kiefer completed the ADF leadership development program to become a Blackstone Fellow. She is admitted to the state bar of California, the U.S. Supreme Court, and numerous federal district and appellate courts.