Szeliga & Carozza Introduce Fairness in Girl’s Sports Bill

Evie Edwards, M.Phil, is a stay-at-home mom to two elementary-aged children in Asheville, NC. A
former NCAA athlete, she continues to compete and has medaled in world, national, and regional
cycling events. Her multi-state legislative efforts have focused on single-sex protections for females
in sports.

National polling shows the public wants to protect women’s sports by ensuring that only biological women can compete against women and use women’s locker rooms.

“Competitive sports allow girls to earn scholarships, medals, and records. Fairness and safety are jeopardized when biological boys are allowed to compete in these elite competitions,” said Delegate Kathy Szeliga.

“We’ve seen girls lose at the podium, and also opportunities for collegiate
athletics, because biological men have taken their medals.”

WOLF – the Women’s Liberation Front – conducted a poll stating that respondents disagree with policies that remove protections for women in single-sex spaces such as prisons, shelters, and sports.

The poll also revealed cross-partisan disapproval of “gender identity” based policies, such as those impacting single-sex sports.

The majority of voters of all parties (66.96 percent) state that men or boys who identify as transgender should not be permitted to compete in women’s and girls’ athletics.

Evie Edwards joined Delegate Szeliga and Senator Carozza at a press conference and bill hearing for HB47, Fairness in Girls’ Sports, on Jan 31. Evie comes from North Carolina and is a former NCAA athlete.

She competes and medals in world, national, and regional cycling events. Her multi-state legislative efforts have focused on single-sex protections for females in sports.

“As a mother, Democrat, and female athlete, I call on Maryland to make female sports fair,” Edwards stated.

The movement to Save Women’s Sports includes women from all walks of life and political persuasions. The Women’s Liberation Front (WOLF), Independent Women’s Forum, Save Women’s Sports, Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), and other groups are working nationwide to protect women’s sports.

At least 23 states have passed legislation protecting girls’ sports in K-12 for biological girls, and more than 30 states have seen legislation introduced. Szeliga and Carozza’s bill limits JV and Varsity high school girls’ sports teams to biological girls.

“We must ensure girls have every opportunity to fairness, safety, as well as access to higher level competition, and my bill will do that,” Carozza said.