Florida Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R) co-sponsored Virginia Congressman John McGuire’s (R) Riley Gaines Act (H.R. 7368) that allows a “clear legal pathway” for biological females to hold sporting institutions accountable for allowing biological males to compete in Women’s only sports.
Last week, Rep. Cammack, alongside House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R), met at a women’s leadership luncheon on Capitol Hill, reaffirming her commitment to protecting women’s sports and ensuring fairness, safety, and equal opportunity for female athletes.
“In the final minutes of a meeting to determine the initiatives we would champion, I suggested we take a position on protecting women’s sports,” Cammack said in an interview with the Alachua Chronicle. “What followed was immediate pushback and accusations simply for raising the issue. That moment made it clear to me that we could not stay silent.”
Also in attendance at the meeting was Payton McNabb, a former high school volleyball player who suffered a severe concussion, brain bleed, and permanent whiplash in 2022 after being struck in the face by a biologically male athlete competing on a girls’ team.
“All of this could have been avoided. My life changed completely in an instant. I lost my ability to play the sport I loved and had to fight through months of recovery and academic challenges,” McNabb said.
This week, Cammack held a press conference where she announced her support for the Riley Gaines Act.
“Women’s sports are for women. Period. Forcing female athletes to compete against biological males is unfair, unsafe, and a direct assault on decades of progress under Title IX,” Cammack stated. “Riley Gaines dared to stand up after experiencing this firsthand. This legislation ensures female athletes are no longer silenced and finally have the legal tools to fight back.”
The specifics of the bill would allow women to:
Establish a clear legal pathway for biological female athletes to hold institutions accountable if they negligently or recklessly allow a biological male to compete in female-only competitions.
- Allow female athletes to sue for physical injury sustained while competing against a biological male.
- Provide a cause of action for damages, including loss of scholarships or professional athletic opportunities.
- Strengthen protections to preserve fairness and safety in women’s and girls’ athletics.
