The Colorado Catholic Conference Supports, HB26-1083, Protect Female Sports Act.

HB26-1083 would limit participation in girls’ sports programs to biological females, affirming the biological distinctions of male and female athletes and protecting the dignity of all athletes. Permitting males to compete in girls’ sports is unfair and unsafe due to the physical advantages that adolescent boys possess. Boys participating in girls’ sports mean lost medals, podium spots, and athletic opportunities for girl athletes. Several biological boys identifying as girls have stolen top rankings in female sports in recent years, including trans-identifying high school track athlete AB Hernadez, who took first place in several state track events over competing girl athletes. Boys’ bodies are structurally distinct from girls’ bodies, giving them a physical advantage in competition, and presenting a possibility of severe injury for the girl athlete. This happened to high school volleyball player Payton McNabb, who suffered an extreme concussion and neck injury from a spike by a trans-identifying male athlete. Furthermore, parents should be able to place their daughter in a sports league without the fear that their daughters will be exposed to biological males in girls-only spaces, such as locker rooms. As lawmakers, if you do not protect girls’ sports by passing HB 1083, you are telling Colorado girl athletes that fairness no longer matters, their safety is negotiable, and their achievements must yield to ideology. The security and dignity of female athletes is compromised when we do not ensure girls’ sports are for biological girls only.

The Colorado Catholic Conference urges a 'yes' vote on HB26-1083.