Instant Replay: All Women and Girls’ Sports Are Protected in Texas (including girls in K-12)
Now that high school track & field, softball, and swimming seasons are underway, it is time for a legislative instant replay of how to protect your female athlete!
If you have been following Texas Values this past year, you may recall our efforts to help pass and sign into law legislation that would protect women from being forced to compete against men in their sports. With the help of NCAA Swimming Champion Riley Gaines, Texas college athletes, and grassroots activists, the Texas legislature passed SB 15, the College Save Women’s Sports Law that was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott last year.
We are pleased that college women athletes in the state of Texas are protected and can compete and receive their education like Title IX intended!
But did you know, girls in K-12 are protected too? In 2021, the Texas Legislature passed HB 25 by Representative Valoree Swanson that protects girls who compete in K-12 University Interscholastic League (UIL) from having to compete against boys. This law has been in effect for 2 years! You may recall this past summer, at a meeting in Austin, that Texas Values worked with the UIL to reject a proposed policy that would allow boys on girls’ volleyball teams!
That said, please reach out to Texas Values if you observe or hear of a situation in middle school or high school sports where a boy may be competing against girls. Let us know immediately so we can assist you with making the coaches and school aware of the law.
You can contact our office by sending an email to [email protected] . We can also be reached by phone at (512)478-2220.
Remember! ALL female athletes are protected in Texas!