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“If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.”  Margaret Thatcher

 

SCFRW knew it was time to get involved as we watched what was happening at Penn State swimming competitions. Female athletes who had trained to compete against other females found themselves losing to a biological male who was breaking records set by biological females.  While Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson may not know what a woman is, SCFRW knows.  We had to protect women who participated in sports at every level in South Carolina; so SCFRW leaders rallied members, and they responded in overwhelming numbers.  At our winter meeting in Myrtle Beach, the members voted unanimously to approve a resolution supporting this effort.  

 

Representative Ashley Trantham prefiled a bill in 2020 and again in 2021, but it died in committee both times.  She reintroduced the bill in the spring of 2022, and SCFRW began a grassroots lobbying effort to support her.  The process stalled more than once in committee, finally facing about 1,000 amendments from the floor by Democrats who sought to kill the bill.  SCFRW members watched this unfold during our April Legislative Day; sporting a sea of red jackets we could not be overlooked.  We had called, emailed, testified, and now we had shown up in person.  

 

Trantham’s bill “Save Women’s Sports” finally passed both houses, and Governor Henry McMaster signed it into law.  It is truly fitting that this bill comes on the 50th anniversary of Title IX that guarantees equal treatment for women in sports.  

 

The battles continue, but we plan to win this war.  Ronald Reagan had it right—we may have been called “foot soldiers,” but we now have our share of “generals” ready to lead us into the fight.  Bring it on!

 

Carol Herring - YCRW President