Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) is increasing his legal efforts to protect women and girls from being required to compete in sports against biological males at public schools, colleges, and universities in Arizona.
This follows after Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma (R-Peoria) filed a motion intervening in a lawsuit in May that threatened to repeal the “Save Women’s Sports Act,” which tries to level the playing field for women and girls in athletics, was passed into law last year.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit represented by a radical-left activist organization, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, claim boys taking puberty blockers won’t have an edge over young girls in sports. According to Petersen, science dictates otherwise.
“According to sports medicine experts, before puberty even begins, boys have physiological advantages over girls, including greater size, significantly less fat, higher lean tissue, and higher aerobic power, resulting in competitive advantages before, during, and after puberty,” Petersen said.
Despite Petersen and Toma’s intervention in the lawsuit earlier this year, a judge with the U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction, putting the law on hold for the plaintiffs in this case.
As a result of the preliminary injunction, Petersen and Toma filed an emergency motion with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to halt the judge’s decision and permit the law to go into force while the legislative leaders pursue an appeal.
According to Petersen, expecting girls to compete alongside biological boys is reckless and irresponsible.
“Not only science, but common sense clearly supports the fact that in general, boys are bigger and stronger than girls at all stages of life. Expecting them to compete against each other in athletic competition is reckless, irresponsible, and will subject girls to increased risk for injury,” Petersen said.
He noted that it’s unfortunate that young girls will face danger and lose out on athletic opportunities due to the judge’s preliminary injunction putting the law on hold.
“It’s unfortunate young girls in our public schools will face these heightened dangers while participating in sports competition against boys, and lose out on athletic opportunities because this law is on hold,” Petersen said.
Petersen also said that it’s disheartening that Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes has no desire to address this issue, prompting himself and Toma to intervene.
“What’s even more disheartening is our Attorney General has no desire to protect our female athletes, prompting myself and Speaker Toma to do her job for her,” Petersen said.
According to Petersen, he is confident that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will agree with the protections for young women and girls participating in Arizona sports.
“I’m confident our judicial system will agree with the protections we’re fighting for so that all young women and girls in Arizona will have the opportunity to compete on an even playing field,” Petersen said.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star, The Star News Network, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
