FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 1, 2023
President Warren Petersen Takes Action to Defend the
"Save Women's Sports Act" in Court
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma are fighting to protect a state law banning biological males from competing in women's and girls' athletic events at Arizona public schools, colleges and universities by filing a motion to intervene in a lawsuit that threatens to repeal this legislation.
Across the country, females who tirelessly train to excel in their chosen sport face the grim reality that at any given moment, a man who claims to be a woman and competes against them can rob them of a championship title, an athletic scholarship or other accolades. As a result, in 2022, Senate Republicans championed S.B. 1165, the "Save Women's Sports Act," to ensure young ladies are protected and provided with an even playing field in sports competition and athletic opportunities. On March 30, this bill was signed into law by former Governor Doug Ducey.
A year later, on April 17, 2023, plaintiffs represented by a radical activist organization filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to stop the law from being enforced in Arizona. Unfortunately, Attorney General Kris Mayes is not defending the constitutionality of the law, therefore, Republican legislative leaders today filed a motion with the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona to intervene in the case.
"Senate and House Republicans stand in solidarity to protect women and girls from the injustices being attempted against them by the extreme left. Female athletes deserve equal opportunities in sporting events, which will not happen so long as males are allowed to compete against them," said President Petersen. "Science is clear that male athletes have many inherent physical advantages over females, including greater size, stronger muscles and larger bone structure. By allowing males to compete against females, we're essentially subjecting young girls to greater risk of injury, as well as stripping them of athletic opportunities their female predecessors have long fought for. In the absence of the Attorney General defending Arizona's law, we're looking forward to fighting for the rights of female athletes across Arizona, as well as for the Court making it clear Arizona's law protecting women and girls should be enforced."
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
kquintero@azleg.gov
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