Linda Thorson, State Director, Concerned Women for America of ND, Edinburg

“You’ve come a long way, baby.” The 1968 slogan for Virginia Slims cigarettes acknowledged that great strides had been made for women, beginning with the right to vote over 50 years earlier.

Almost as impactful was the passage of Title IX in 1972, which significantly expanded educational and athletic opportunities for women and girls. In the 1970s, I was one of those athletes, competing on the girls’ swim team for six years. At the end of the pool hung two plaques, one for the girls’ team and one for the boys’; each plaque listed the name and record time for every event. Although the members of both teams spent the same amount of time in practice, the boys outperformed the girls in every event. But that was okay, because we had our plaque.

Today, we can’t sing, “We’ve Come a Long Way Baby,” when the accomplishments to prevent sex discrimination for girls and women are being erased throughout our country. June 23 marks the 53rd anniversary of the passage of Title IX, yet female athletes are sidelined as male athletes compete in girls’ sports. A recent example of discrimination occurred earlier this month when the Champlin Park Softball Team received the Minnesota Girls Softball State Title with a male pitcher who identified as female.

It is illogical and unfair that male athletes are receiving girls’ scholarships, using girls’ locker rooms, replacing records, and winning championships in girls’ sports. Thankfully, our governor and state legislators have enacted laws to protect girls’ and women’s sports in North Dakota.

Celebrate the passing of Title IX. Contact your federal legislators, and ask them to support legislation that protects female athletes based on the biological truth of being male or female, in every state.