FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Arizona Senate Continues Legal Battle to Protect Girls' Sports
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senate President Warren Petersen is doubling-down in his legal efforts to protect women and girls from being forced to compete against biological males in athletic events at Arizona's public schools, colleges and universities.
Three months ago, President Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma intervened in a lawsuit threatening to repeal the 'Save Women's Sports Act,' which was signed into law last year to create an even playing field for women and girls in athletics.
Plaintiffs represented by a radical-left activist organization argue boys who are taking puberty blockers won't have a competitive advantage against young girls. However, science dictates otherwise. According to sports medicine experts, before puberty even begins, boys have physiological advantages over girls, including greater size, significantly less fat, higher lean tissue and higher aerobic power, resulting in competitive advantages before, during and after puberty.
Despite the overwhelming scientific facts, a judge with the U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction, putting the law on hold for the plaintiffs in this case. As a result, President Petersen and Speaker Toma filed an emergency motion Tuesday with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in an effort to stop the judge's ruling and allow the law to take effect while the legislative leaders seek an appeal.
"Not only science, but common sense clearly supports the fact that in general, boys are bigger and stronger than girls at all stages of life. Expecting them to compete against each other in athletic competition is reckless, irresponsible and will subject girls to increased risk for injury," said President Petersen. "It's unfortunate young girls in our public schools will face these heightened dangers while participating in sports competition against boys, and lose out on athletic opportunities because this law is on hold. What's even more disheartening is our Attorney General has no desire to protect our female athletes, prompting myself and Speaker Toma to do her job for her. I'm confident our judicial system will agree with the protections we're fighting for so that all young women and girls in Arizona will have the opportunity to compete on an even playing field."
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
kquintero@azleg.gov