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PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 6, 2026 Kincaid for Congress Washington’s 1st District Kincaid: Protecting Women’s Sports and Sex‑Based Privacy in Washington’s 1st District Press statement from Kincaid for Congress – WA‑01 Protecting Women’s Sports and Sex Based Privacy Principle Women and girls are entitled to fair athletic competition, physical safety, and personal privacy in sex-segregated environments. These protections are grounded in long standing principles of equality and security. Upholding them is both a matter of fairness and of maintaining public trust in the integrity of institutions that serve them. This effort is not about exclusion it is about establishing clear, consistent standards that safeguard women’s opportunities, dignity, and rights. Policy Priorities 1) Ensuring Fairness in Women’s and Girls’ Sports Women’s sports exist to promote equitable athletic competition and to preserve opportunities scholarships, records, roster spots, and safety that would otherwise be compromised. To maintain these purposes, I support federal and state policies that: Define female athletic categories on the basis of biological sex. Establish uniform eligibility standards for governing bodies, schools, and athletic associations to prevent inconsistent or improvised rules. Reaffirm Title IX’s original intent to protect equal athletic opportunity for women and girls. Guarantee due process, transparency, and procedural consistency in eligibility determinations and policy enforcement. Every athlete deserves safety, respect, and a level playing field. Fair competition requires distinct categories that reflect biological realities while ensuring all students are treated with integrity and respect. 2) Safeguarding Sex Based Privacy in Intimate and Protected Settings Sex specific privacy and safety standards play an indispensable role in many contexts, particularly those involving vulnerability or exposure. These include: Locker rooms and changing facilities Showers and saunas Domestic violence shelters Certain correctional and detention facilities Healthcare environments involving intimate care Sex segregated accommodations where privacy and personal safety are central I support policies that: Preserve the right of institutions to maintain women only facilities and services when justified by privacy, safety, or therapeutic need. Protect sex based privacy in high sensitivity environments. Provide reasonable accommodations, such as single occupancy or private use spaces, ensuring that all individuals have dignified options without compromising protections for women. Federal Action and Legislative Commitment Many relevant rules are set at the state and local levels, but Congress retains clear authority in areas involving civil rights enforcement, federal funding, and national policy consistency. In Congress, I will: Advance clear federal guidance reaffirming Title IX protections for women’s sports and reducing uncertainty for educational institutions. Support legislation that explicitly upholds sex-based privacy in contexts where safety and security are paramount. Require transparency, public accountability, and measurable outcomes in any federal policy changes affecting sex segregated contexts. Defend open discourse and free expression so that parents, educators, and athletes can voice their perspectives without fear of reprisal. Commitment to Clarity, Fairness, and Dignity This issue should not be weaponized for partisan gain. Protecting women and girls requires a balanced, constructive approach to one anchored in factual standards, legal clarity, and human dignity. We can restore confidence and fairness by: Establishing policies that are clear, predictable, and consistent across jurisdictions Preserving the integrity and meaning of female athletic categories Upholding privacy and safety in sensitive, sex specific environments Providing reasonable and respectful solutions that balance rights and realities That is the standard of leadership and common sense policy I intend to bring to Congress. Congresswoman Suzan DelBene voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28) on January 14, 2025. Key details regarding this vote: The Legislation: H.R. 28 aimed to prohibit schools from allowing individuals whose biological sex at birth was male to participate in sports designated for women or girls. The Vote: The bill passed the House with a vote of 219-203, with DelBene voting “Nay”. So far it has not been voted on in the Senate. submitted by /u/duckduckew |
