MY TURN: Way to go Idaho!

Idaho was the FIRST state in the nation to pass a law banning biological males from playing on women’s sports teams. That was six years ago in 2020, and now the U.S. Supreme Court has finally ruled that states may legally uphold such laws and protect safety and fairness for girls and women in sports. Here’s the story:

It was Barbara Ehardt’s idea.

Representative Barbara Ehardt from Idaho Falls introduced herself to me in 2020. She was new to the legislative process but had been a NCAA Women’s Basketball coach for years before being elected. She was very concerned about the consequences of males claiming to be women so they could play on women’s teams, and she asked if I would help her with a bill to protect women’s sports. I was a former critical care nurse with a master’s degree in health education and had developed many strong relationships during my then six years in the Senate.

A coach and a nurse. We were a great team to bring this bill protecting women’s sports, but it was not easy.

The committee hearing rooms were packed when this bill was being presented. Our state capitol in Boise is surrounded by a very liberal city, and the hearings were full of angry people with rainbow hair and loud, indignant college students. The protests in committee were brutal, but out on the steep steps of the Capitol building the protests were even worse. Several times Barbara and I had to have security escort us out to our cars.

During the committee hearings, Barbara would start out sharing her background and enthusiastic support for women’s sports. I would follow with the biology, explaining the physical differences between males and females, with the natural performance benefits or hinderances expected. We provided packets of diagrams, research and comparisons. 

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) was a key partner in our process. They helped with amendments to the wording and worked with the governor’s legal staff to make sure all our bases were covered.

The bill passed the Idaho House and Senate with large margins, and the governor signed it. But before we could even celebrate, the ACLU filed a lawsuit and pulled the bill into court, where it has stayed in legal limbo until now. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision today will allow Idaho, and the 26 other states that have passed such a bill, to finally implement these protections for women’s sports. It should also give motivation to the remaining 23 states without such protections, that it’s time to step up and do the right thing for girls and women in sports.

Congratulations to Idaho for leading the way!

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Mary Souza is a happily retired eight-year Republican State Senator from Coeur d’Alene.