The Mississippi Legislature will be considering a bill (SB 2240) titled the Mississippi Fairness Act. This is a good bill that will require the state’s public schools (primary, secondary, college, and university) to designate athletic teams and sports to be based on biological sex. Meaning, boys will compete with boys, and girls with girls.
Contact your legislator and urge him or her to support the Mississippi Fairness Act that requires public school athletic teams to be based on biological sex.
Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann (R) has double referred the bill, which means the bill must pass out of two committees. Republicans hold the majority in the state Senate, and the bill should advance to a floor vote.
The bill prevents biological males, who consider themselves to be female, from competing in female sports. Unfortunately, 17 states have allowed transgender male athletes to compete against females. However, the Mississippi Fairness Act ought to receive strong bipartisan support in the Mississippi Legislature and prevent unfair competition in public school athletics.
The Mississippi Fairness Act was introduced by state Sen. Angela Hill (R–Picayune). The bill contains the following findings:
- "The biological differences between females and males, especially as it relates to natural levels of testosterone, 'explain the male and female secondary sex characteristics which develop during puberty and have lifelong effects, including those most important for success in sport: categorically different strength, speed, and endurance.'"
- "Having separate sex-specific teams furthers efforts to promote sex equality. Sex-specific teams accomplish this by providing opportunities for female athletes to demonstrate their skill, strength, and athletic abilities while also providing them with opportunities to obtain recognition and accolades, college scholarships, and the numerous other long-term benefits that flow from success in athletic endeavors."
- "A recent study on the impact of such treatments found that even after twelve (12) months of hormonal therapy, a man who identifies as a woman and is taking cross-sex hormones had an absolute advantage over female athletes and will still likely have performance benefits over women."
If this common sense legislation is enacted, it would require that athletic teams be based on biological sex – not one's preferred sexual identity. Biological males competing against girls in public athletics and sports place females at a disadvantage. This is especially true when females would have to compete against males for college and university scholarships.
Contact your legislator and urge him or her to support the Mississippi Fairness Act that requires public school athletic teams to be based on biological sex.
