Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have left Washington, D.C., to take a 2-week recess in their home states. While many things have been left undone such as reopening the Department of Homeland Security or passing the SAVE America Act, other entities are busy at work. The International Olympic Committee and the Supreme Court issued major decisions this week that champion women and children.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) finally determined that only biological females can play in the women’s categories of sports. They will now require mandatory SRY testing which shows the presence of Y chromosomes through a saliva or blood test. The IOC previously relied on birth certificates. This comes one year after President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the Secretary of State to take measures to ensure Title IX is enforced to protect women’s sports.
The first instance of a male competing in a women’s Olympic sport occurred in 2021when Laurel Hubbard, a biological male from New Zealand, competed in women’s weightlifting. Hubbard began hormone replacement therapy 8 years earlier to make his body more feminized. Hubbard’s inclusion made way for two boxers with Y chromosomes to dominate the women’s category in 2024. Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting were previously barred from competing in the 2023 World Championship’s women’s division for carrying Y chromosomes yet were allowed to compete at the Olympic level. Both quickly won every match. One biological female competitor abandoned her fight due to Khelif’s immense strength. Khelif took home the gold medal.
Kirsty Coventry, the first woman to serve as president of the IOC, confirmed the common-sense decision to protect women’s sports was made based on science by medical experts. She said in a statement:
At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat so it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.
The IOC made exceptions for athletes who have a rare sex development condition that is not self-induced. All other athletes who test positive for Y chromosomes will either have to compete in the male or mixed categories.
The Supreme Court also issued a decision that will protect children from transgender ideology. In an overwhelming 8-1 ruling in Chiles v. Salazar, the Court ruled that Colorado’s law censoring counselors who want to provide alternatives to affirming one’s perceived gender is an ‘egregious’ violation of the First Amendment. Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) represented licensed counselor Kaley Chiles who believes children can live more fulfilling lives if encouraged to embrace their biological sex and are treated directly for other issues such as depression. ADF explained in their opening brief:
Counseling is vital speech that helps young people better understand themselves, their desires, their actions, and their identity. Colorado interjects itself into those conversations, silences views it dislikes and tries to control what those kids believe about themselves and who they can become. Such priceless speech on such important issues lies at the First Amendment’s core. The Court should protect it.
Eagle Forum President Kris Ullman praised the decision for all Americans calling it “common sense.” She stated in our press release:
The Court’s ruling will protect the rights of counselors not only in Colorado but also in more than 20 states that have enacted viewpoint-discriminatory laws that silence speech that conforms to biological reality. Children who are struggling with gender identity issues deserve honest information. They do not need the government to select which viewpoints they are allowed to hear.
The decisions made through the IOC and the Supreme Court are important victories for families. We applaud the courage of parents, athletes, and counselors who have used their voices to protect families and our fundamental rights. You can read Eagle Forum’s full press release on our website here.