Argument for Preserving Female-Exclusive Sports Competitions in New Mexico
In the heart of Santa Fe, New Mexico, a passionate speaker recently gathered to celebrate the 53rd anniversary of Title IX, a landmark law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs receiving federal funding. However, the speaker's visit was not just about looking back, but also about raising concerns over the current state of women's sports in the state.
The speaker, a former athlete, expressed disappointment that Democrats in New Mexico have not taken a stand on the protection of women's sports. As of August 2025, New Mexico has not passed legislation to define sex-based terms or to preserve single-sex athletic opportunities such as those in women's sports. A bill called the Protection of Women’s Sports Act (HB 185), which aimed to address these issues, was brought before the New Mexico House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee but was killed in committee and did not advance.
Advocates for single-sex sports protections feel dismissed, particularly by Democratic lawmakers, and the governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, has been criticized for not protecting female athletes’ rights to compete fairly in women’s sports. This is in stark contrast to New Mexico's laws protecting access to gender-affirming care and prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
The speaker is not alone in their fight. As of now, 28 states have laws protecting women's sports, and 18 states have defined "woman" in state law. The speaker has testified before the U.S. House Oversight Committee regarding "Unfair Play: Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports."
The speaker's call to action comes after a personal incident. In September 2022, during a high school volleyball match, the speaker suffered an injury at the hands of a transgender-identifying male athlete. The injury resulted in a traumatic brain injury, brain bleed, partial paralysis, chronic headaches, vision problems, balance issues, and cognitive challenges.
The speaker is motivated to speak out about the issue due to a love for sports and a commitment to fairness for all female athletes. They wish that elected leaders in New Mexico had the courage to speak out about the issue and restore the nondiscrimination statute that Title IX represents. Polls show near-unanimous support for keeping women's sports female across all demographics and party affiliations.
The speaker's testimony before the U.S. House Oversight Committee was cut short when Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) moved to adjourn the hearing. Despite this, the speaker remains undeterred, turning their pain into advocacy, pushing for state and federal legislation defining sex-based terms and preserving single-sex athletic opportunities.
References:
[1] [Link to source] [2] [Link to source] [4] [Link to source]
- The speaker, advocating for the 53rd anniversary of Title IX, raised concerns about the current state of women's sports in New Mexico, particularly the lack of legislation defining sex-based terms and preserving single-sex athletic opportunities.
- The speaker, a former athlete, expressed disappointment that Democrats in New Mexico have not taken a stand on the protection of women's sports, citing the unpassed Protection of Women’s Sports Act (HB 185) as evidence.
- Advocates for single-sex sports protections feel dismissed by Democratic lawmakers and the governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, who has been criticized for not protecting female athletes' rights to compete fairly in women's sports.
- The speaker voiced their opinion on the need for federal and state legislation defining sex-based terms and preserving single-sex athletic opportunities, a position shared by 28 states that have already enacted such laws.
- The speaker's call to action was born out of a personal incident involving a traumatic brain injury, brain bleed, partial paralysis, chronic headaches, vision problems, balance issues, and cognitive challenges, which occurred during a high school volleyball match against a transgender-identifying male athlete.
- The speaker is committed to fairness for all female athletes in sports and wishes that elected leaders in New Mexico would have the courage to speak out about the issue and restore the nondiscrimination statute that Title IX represents, as polls show near-unanimous support for keeping women's sports female across all demographics and party affiliations.
