Republican Leaders Advocate for Women’s Sports Protection

During a recent private luncheon, House Republican leaders emphasized their efforts to safeguard women’s sports from the participation of male athletes who identify as transgender.

Majority Whip Tom Emmer invited fellow Republicans, along with female athletes and advocates, to highlight the advancements made in this area. Emmer even shared advice he’d give to his daughter regarding competing against boys.

“My life completely changed in an instant,” he remarked. He went on to say, “I have seven children—six boys and one daughter. It might seem a bit much, but I truly believe in standing up for what’s right. I taught my daughter to compete with boys; heck, I even encouraged her to outshine them!”

Looking at his daughter, Emmer questioned, “What parent wouldn’t want to voice that this is unfair?”

Republican Rep. Cat Cammack from Florida, who helped organize the luncheon, shared her own experiences of backlash when attempting to defend women athletes. She recalled chairing a bipartisan Women’s Caucus where she highlighted the need to protect women’s sports. The response was shocking.

“I mentioned it in the last moments of our meeting, and you wouldn’t believe the uproar it caused,” Cammack stated. “Women criticized us, calling us hateful and exclusionary. We knew then that action was necessary.” She later established the Republican Women’s Caucus to continue advocating for these issues.

Several female athletes attended the event, coming with their own stories of competing against male-identifying athletes. One notable attendee, Peyton McNabb, a former volleyball player, described how her life was drastically affected after an incident during a match against a male athlete. In 2022, she was seriously injured, suffering a concussion and other injuries when struck by the ball.

She reflected, “I went to the doctor after the incident, and they told me I had a concussion, a brain bleed, and permanent whiplash. This situation could have been entirely avoidable. I thought I was on a path to playing college volleyball, but all that was taken from me in that single moment.”

“I couldn’t even drive for months. It impacted my schoolwork significantly, too. I was among the top of my class, needing extra time for tests. My life changed so abruptly. It was tough for me, really tough for my family to watch—and that’s why sharing my story feels so important.”