Utah Valley Times

Representative John Curtis and a group of Western lawmakers have addressed a letter to Mountain West Conference Commissioner Gloria Nevarez, urging the conference to prioritize safety and fairness in women's sports. The letter emphasizes the importance of recognizing biological differences between men and women as outlined by Title IX, which aims to provide equal opportunities in educational programs and athletics.

The lawmakers stated, "Title IX recognizes the fundamental biological differences between men and women and allows each to pursue educational programs and activities equally, including athletics. Failure to recognize these biological differences between males and females puts our daughters and granddaughters in harm’s way." They expressed concern that the Mountain West Conference is not ensuring an environment where women can compete without safety concerns.

In their communication, Curtis and his colleagues referenced actions by other athletic organizations like the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which has restricted participation in women's sports to biological females. They urged the Mountain West Conference to adopt similar policies for the protection of female student-athletes.

The letter also highlighted incidents where institutions within the conference had forfeited games to protect their athletes, indicating local efforts to maintain fairness despite a lack of action from the conference itself.

Curtis was supported by members of Utah's delegation, including Senators Mitt Romney, Mike Lee, Representatives Burgess Owens, Celeste Maloy, Blake Moore, as well as other Western lawmakers such as Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), John Barrasso (R-WY), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Representatives Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Mike Simpson (R-ID), and Harriet Hageman (R-WY).

This initiative continues Curtis' ongoing commitment to ensuring fairness and safety in athletic programs while advocating for strengthened Title IX provisions for equitable opportunities for women nationwide.

For more details on the letter's content, please refer to the provided link.