If you'd like to contact Rep. Schwartz, please do NOT reply to this email. Rep. Schwartz can be reached at rep.erica.schwartz@house.mn.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Dominica Bernstein, 651.297.8150
Dominica.Bernstein@house.mn.gov
News Release
Representative Erica Schwartz Responds to Minnesota Supreme Court Ruling on Girls’ Sports: “Fairness and Safety for Female Athletes Must Come First”
ST. PAUL – Today, Representative Erica Schwartz (R–Nicollet) issued the following statement in response to this morning’s Minnesota Supreme Court ruling reaffirming that the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) protects individuals based on transgender status, effectively making it illegal to maintain women’s or girls’ sports divisions that exclude males based on sex.
“This morning’s ruling is a setback for fairness and safety in girls’ sports,” said Rep. Schwartz. “For more than 50 years, Title IX has guaranteed women and girls the right to compete on a level playing field. Thanks to the sacrifices of previous generations, female athletes have had the chance to develop their skills, earn scholarships, and grow through competition. Those opportunities now face an unprecedented challenge.”
Rep. Schwartz, who supported House File 12 earlier this year, emphasized that fair competition is fundamental to the value of sports. “Sports are about more than exercise—they teach hard work, perseverance, teamwork, and how to handle both victory and defeat with dignity. Those lessons only matter when the competition is fair. This ruling puts female athletes at a disadvantage, taking away championships, records, and in some cases, the safety they deserve.”
Recent polling underscores broad public support for maintaining girls-only sports divisions. A New York Times survey found that 79% of Americans—including 67% of Democrats—believe girls’ sports should be reserved for girls. “Parents, coaches, and athletes overwhelmingly understand that fairness in competition is not controversial—it’s an expectation,” Rep. Schwartz said.
“House File 12 provides the common-sense protections our female athletes need,” she continued. “We must act now to ensure that girls in Minnesota continue to have equal opportunities to compete safely and fairly.”
###
|
