Save Women’s Sports Act Approved By Ohio House

(6-6-22) State Rep. Jena Powell’s (R-Arcanum) Save Women’s Sports Act was approved by the Ohio House last Wednesday. The legislation would prohibit biological males from competing in female-only sports within the state.

Powell spoke to the legislation’s passage on the House Floor.

“The Save Women’s Sports Act is a fairness issue for women. Across our country, female athletes are currently losing championships, scholarship opportunities, medals, education and training opportunities, and more to discriminatory policies that allow biological males to compete in girls’ sports.”

Powell’s Save Women’s Sports Act, which passed as an amendment to House Bill 151, would ensure that no school, interscholastic conference, or organization that regulates interscholastic athletics can allow biological males to compete in women’s sports. 

“All these girls ask for is a fair shot, and to be given the chance to play and win by the rules in the sports that they love. The opportunity is being ripped from them by biological males.”

The measure was inserted into an unrelated education bill and approved along partisan lines. A similar effort by House Republicans died a year ago, and the Senate has adjourned for the summer.

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The legislation says no school or athletic conference

“shall permit individuals of the male sex to participate on athletic teams or in athletic competitions designated only for participants of the female sex.”.

6 Republican women stand up to speak in support of the #SaveWomensSports Act while 4 Democrat men stand up to explain to them why they don’t think it’s necessary. 👀 @OHRGOPCaucus

— Brian Stewart (@BrianStewartOH) June 2, 2022

Two opponents of the bill include Gov. Dewine and the Ohio High School Athletic Asociation (OHSAA)

GOP Gov. Mike DeWine has questioned the need for such a ban, saying the matter is best handled by leagues and athletic associations.

The OHSAA has consistently said there’s no evidence of a problem posed by transgender girls competing in sports, and the number of such participants is minor.

OHSAA’s complete Transgender Policy –