Op-Ed: Jennifer Nassour: Let’s protect fairness and safety in girls’ sports
As a mother, I’ve seen firsthand the drive and determination that girls bring to sports. My youngest daughter is a phenomenal soccer player who has spent countless hours training and pushing herself to achieve excellence. Nearly every weekend, we travel together for her soccer tournaments, and I know from speaking with other parents that her journey reflects a truth many parents know well: girls work hard for their wins. That’s why I believe our daughters deserve to be able to compete in a fair and safe environment.
Unfortunately in Massachusetts and many other blue states — from Washington state to Minnesota — fairness and safety in girls' sports are major concerns. Under current law, boys are allowed to compete on girls’ teams if they identify as female or if there is no equivalent boys’ team. This means my daughters — and girls across the Commonwealth — could be forced to compete against biological males in high-impact, high-stakes games.
Unfortunately, we saw the consequences of this in Minnesota just last week where a biological male led his team to a state championship in softball, pitching 35 straight innings to steal a state title from dozens of young women.
This isn’t just a matter of sportsmanship. This is a matter of safety and equity. Anyone who has spent time on the sidelines or in the stands knows that physical differences between boys and girls can’t be wished away. When girls are matched against boys on the field, court, or track, they can be placed at a real disadvantage, both competitively and physically. It’s not only unfair, but, in some cases, it’s downright dangerous.
Let me be clear: this isn’t about discrimination. It’s about acknowledging biological reality and respecting the integrity of girls’ athletics. In my home state of Massachusetts, the Protect Female Athletes bill was introduced to ensure that girls aren’t forced to compete against male athletes if they don’t believe it’s fair or feel it’s safe. This isn’t a ban on individuals from playing in sports. Instead, this bill gives athletes, parents, and coaches the ability to prioritize girls’ safety instead of facing repercussions.
What is the point of having boys’ and girls’ sports teams if boys can play in, and dominate, girls only teams?
As a mother, I know I’m not alone in asking this question. I talk to other parents all the time who share these same concerns. We want our daughters to be strong, confident, and empowered, but we also want them to be safe at the same time. When we ignore the biological differences in sports, we undermine the very progress we’ve fought so hard to achieve for female athletes.
Massachusetts has long been a leader on so many important issues. Now is the time for our state to lead with clarity and common sense once again. Let’s stand up for our daughters and for every female athlete who counts on us to protect their right to compete fairly.
Our girls deserve nothing less.
Jennifer Nassour is the co-founder of the Pocketbook Project, host of the Political Contessa Podcast, and former Chair of the Massachusetts GOP where she rebuilt the party’s activist infrastructure leading the party to doubling seats in the Massachusetts House and a U.S. Senate race win. She currently serves as the Finance Chair of the Massachusetts GOP.