OKLAHOMA CITY (LifeSiteNews) — Oklahoma’s Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill Wednesday protecting student women’s sports in the state by outlawing male participation in the wake of “transgender” male athletes taking women’s leagues by storm.
In signing the “Save Women’s Sports Act,” Stitt guaranteed that “[a]thletic teams designated for ‘females,’ ‘women,’ or ‘girls’ shall not be open to students of the male sex,” according to paragraph 1 of the act.
The legislation offers protections for any “student who is deprived of an athletic opportunity or suffers any direct or indirect harm as a result of a violation of paragraph 1 of this subsection” by guaranteeing “cause of action for injunctive relief, damages and any other relief available permitted by law against the school.”
The new act also protects students from “retaliation or other adverse action by a school, school athletic association or intercollegiate association” should they report a violation of the legislation to a competent authority.
Describing the act as “common sense,” Gov. Stitt said that his aim “is very, very simple. We are protecting women’s sports,” the Daily Wire reported.
“When it comes to sports and athletics, girls should compete against girls. Boys should compete against boys. And let’s be very clear. That’s all this bill says,” Stitt said to a group of female athletes.
The Save Women’s Sports Act is just common sense. pic.twitter.com/gE6Pkb07kQ
— Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) March 30, 2022
The governor said he is “ensuring a level playing field for female athletes who work hard, who train hard, who are committed to their team. Who have dreams to be number one in their sport. Who deserve a fair competition.”
“I think more people need to lead and not be afraid of doing the right thing,” Stitt commented, adding that “Oklahomans are with us and the majority of Americans are with us as well.”
According to the Daily Wire, Family Policy Alliance spokeswoman Meridian Baldacci celebrated the move in a statement, saying that “when males are allowed to compete in female sports competitions, they can and do take championship titles and other elite opportunities that were meant for girls,” referring to “transgender” swimmer William “Lia” Thomas competing in NCAA events.
“Female athletes should grow up with a level playing field, in life and in sports,” stated Baldacci, adding that now, with a law to protect their athletic aspirations, girls in Oklahoma “can know that they have a level playing field, and a fair shot at the opportunities meant just for them.”
Oklahoma is now one of fourteen states to legislate against male participation in female sports and, according to the left-leaning American Civil Liberties Union, some 29 states have begun the process of drafting bills banning men from competing in women’s sports.
Arizona’s Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill Wednesday to the same effect, as well as banning “sex change” surgeries for minors and most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
In an accompanying letter, Ducey said: “I signed S.B. 1138 and S.B. 1165, legislation to protect participation and fairness for female athletes, and to ensure that individuals undergoing irreversible gender reassignment surgery are of adult age.”
BREAKING: Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has signed bills banning biological men from playing girl’s sports, make gender reassignment surgeries illegal for minors, and to ban abortion after 15 weeks.
Arizona is the 14th state to protect our daughters’ sports.
— American Principles 🇺🇸 (@approject) March 30, 2022
“This legislation is common-sense and narrowly-targeted to address these two specific issues – while ensuring that transgender individuals continue to receive the same dignity, respect and kindness as every individual in our society,” the governor said. “Every young Arizona athlete should have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities that give them a sense of belonging and allow them to grow and thrive.”