WASHINGTON, D.C. On June 23, female athletes, parents, and advocates will join fourteen organizations from across the political spectrum to rally for “Our Bodies, Our Sports.” June 23rd marks the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, the federal civil rights rights law as part of the Education Amendments of 1972 which prohibits sex-based discrimination in education. 

Since its passing in 1972, Title IX has transformed sports by guaranteeing women the right to equal athletic opportunities. Before Title IX, only one in 27 girls participated in sports. Today, two in five do. Despite this progress, female athletes are being sidelined in order to make room for males. This isn’t right, and it isn’t fair. It’s time to take back Title IX.

Independent Women’s Forum, Women’s Liberation Front, the Heritage Foundation, Women’s Declaration International USA Chapter, Concerned Women for America, ICONS, Save Women’s Sports, Alliance Defending Freedom, Independent Women’s Voice, Family Policy Alliance, and several other organizations are sponsoring the rally to celebrate female athletes and to highlight the need to preserve single-sex athletic competition. 

The rally will take place at 11:00 a.m. ET at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C.

WHAT: Rally for “Our Body, Our Sports” to celebrate female athletes and single-sex competition
WHEN: June 23, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. EDT 

  • Press arrival: 9:00 a.m. EDT
  • Doors open: 10:00 a.m. EDT

WHERE: Freedom Plaza (1301 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004)
WHY: Celebrate 50 years of Title IX and advocate to keep women’s sports female

Athletes in attendance will include:

  • Riley Gaines, former University of Kentucky swimmer who tied for 5th-place against Lia Thomas at NCAA Championships
  • Cynthia Monteleone, Team USA world champion track athlete who competed against a transgender athlete at the World Championship
  • Taylor Silverman, skateboarder who competed against transgender athlete Lillian Gallagher at the Red Bull Cornerstone competition
  • Kim Jones, former All-American tennis player, mother of Ivy League swimmer, and co-founder of Independent Council of Women’s Sports (ICONS)
  • Marshi Smith, former University of Arizona swimmer, NCAA and PAC-10 champion, and co-founder of Independent Council of Women’s Sports (ICONS) 
  • Inga Thompson, 3x Olympic cyclist who competed when there were no women’s teams
  • Chelsea Mitchell, top high school runner who lost four state championships, two all-New England awards, and additional other honors to male-bodied competitors, and her mother, Christy Mitchell
  • Madison Kenyon, Idaho State NCAA athlete who competed against male athlete in college track, standing up to defend Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act
  • Mary Marshall, Idaho State NCAA athlete who competed against male athlete in college track, standing up to defend Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act
  • Alanna Smith, Connecticut track athlete who lost to male athletes in high school, and her mother, Cheryl Radachowsky
  • Selina Soule, Connecticut track athlete who lost out on placements and opportunities to advance because she was forced to compete against male athletes 
  • Macy Petty, NCAA scholarshipped athlete (volleyball) and Young Women for America leader
  • Chloe Satterfield, freshman at Georgia Tech who competed against a male identifying as female her senior year and lost. He was a freshman. 
  • And more!

Additional rally participants include:

  • Tulsi Gabbard, Former U.S. Representative (D-HI), original sponsor of the Protect Women’s Sports Act 
  • Candice Jackson, Former Deputy General Counsel, Department of Education
  • Rep. Barbara Ehardt, Idaho State Representative; original sponsor Fairness in Women’s Sports Act; former Idaho State athlete and 15-year NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Coach
  • Carrie Lukas, President, Independent Women’s Forum
  • Penny Nance, CEO and President, Concerned Women for America
  • Amanda Houdeschell, Volunteer, Member, & Events Manager, Women’s Liberation Front (WoLF) 
  • Nicole Hudgens, Government Affairs, Family Policy Alliance
  • Annabelle Rutledge, National Director, Young Women for America 
  • Kara Dansky, President, Women’s Declaration International USA Chapter
  • Jennifer C. Braceras, Director, Independent Women’s Law Center
  • Sarah Parshall Perry, Senior Legal Fellow, The Heritage Foundation
  • Christiana Kiefer, Senior Counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom 
  • Meg Kilgannon, Senior Fellow for Education Studies, Family Research Council 
  • Beth Stelzer, Founder, Save Women’s Sports
  • Maud Maron, New York Democrat for Congress
  • Lauren Levey, Women’s rights and lesbian rights activist; Co-founder, Sirens Women’s Motorcycle Club in New York City; Vice President, Women’s Declaration International USA Chapter
  • And more!

SPONSORS:

For press inquiries, contact [email protected].

### 
www.ourbodiesoursports.com