OPINION:
Promising to unify the nation through big government-sponsored gender equity and women’s rights, President Biden stated: “This moment demands a bold and united response — a commitment to do more than just rebuild to a status quo that wasn’t working for women and girls, but rather to build back better.”
Rather than unifying the nation, Mr. Biden incited division when he signed an executive order on his first day in office, expanding the longstanding definition of “sex” from purely biological males and females, to include abstract concepts such as “gender identity” that have particular impacts on competitive women’s sports.
Look no further for the policy’s consequences than transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, who made history this month as the first transgender woman to win an NCAA swimming championship. Competing on the University of Pennsylvania’s male swim team for three years before competing on the women’s team, Thomas has taken advantage of the anti-woman policies of the Biden administration and the NCAA, subsequently shattering records as a transitioned woman.
Who ultimately suffers the consequences of this radical redefinition? Women — one-half of America’s citizens. Mr. Biden’s rewrite of biological reality will continue to result in the male domination of female spaces and erosion of female privacy within restrooms, locker rooms, prisons and shelters, putting women and girls in danger.
Despite the fact the “status quo” Mr. Biden inherited included the lowest unemployment rate for women in 70 years under the Trump administration, the Biden administration has instead thrust a glaringly anti-woman agenda onto the American people, effectively robbing women and girls of fairness in their sports and distorting biological reality.
As we recognize and celebrate women’s past accomplishments and contributions during this Women’s History Month, we must look forward and defend American women and girls from the damaging anti-woman agenda of the radical left, amplified by Mr. Biden and his administration.
Despite camouflaging the executive order as an initiative to “combat discrimination,” the Biden administration disparaged American women, particularly female athletes, robbing them of athletic opportunity by blurring biological truths. Ironically, the radical left’s agenda is anti-science. They actively encourage biological males to compete on and dominate teams not akin to their biological sex when scientifically, males and females are built and operate differently.
Frankly, this unfair advantage undermines female achievement and disincentivizes female athletes from working hard to reach their goals. Allowing men to dominate female sports and depriving female athletes of a fair chance to pursue their dreams undermines the essence of our longstanding American tradition: Hard work, determination and honesty.
Simply put, it is not bigoted to recognize biology, reality and science. There are many instances when no amount of training or talent can overcome the biological differences between the sexes when it comes to athletic competition. Ultimately, the Biden administration’s policy fails to address several remaining disparities between the sexes, including immutable characteristics such as physical size, muscular structure and height.
Worse, while a strong majority (62%) of Americans agree that athletes should compete on teams based on biological sex, the Biden administration’s Department of Justice sought to redefine biology and reason by administratively labeling state laws that bar male athletes from competing in women’s sports as “unconstitutional.” It’s clear that neither the Biden administration nor America’s radical leftist elite cares about reflecting the widely held values of American citizens or seeking to celebrate true femininity.
Mr. Biden’s remarks to the transgender community during the State of the Union address assured America’s transgender youth that he “will always have their backs.” However, America is wondering, will the president and his administration have the backs of hardworking female athletes deserving of a fair chance?
During Women’s History Month, we ought to reflect upon the uniqueness women bring to America’s competitive spirit and prosperity. Women are special creations uniquely designed by God to be different yet complementary to men. As Americans, we all should seek to cherish femininity, encourage womanhood at all stages of life and promote genuine female achievement.
So, yes, Mr. Biden, you are right that we need to promote women and girls, but sadly, you are going about it all the wrong ways. Let hard work, fair competition and biological truth prevail in the pool, on the field … and everywhere across America.
• Bethany Kozma is director of the Center for American Values at the America First Policy Institute. She previously served as the deputy chief of staff at USAID during the Trump administration. Lauren Baldwin is a policy analyst at the Center for American Values at the America First Policy Institute.
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