Lawmakers: OSAA must align with Fed rules on women sports

By Members of the Oregon House of Representatives

February 11, 2025
SALEM, OR – Today, Representatives Dwayne Yunker (R-Grants Pass), Boomer Wright (R-Reedsport), Darin Harbick (R-Rainbow), Ed Diehl (R-Stayton), E. Werner Reschke (R-Klamath Falls), and Gregory Smith (R-Heppner) sent a letter to Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) President Peter Weber requesting an immediate OSAA rule change to specify that girls’ high school sports participation is reserved for biological female athletes.

Given the federal executive order signed on February 5, 2025, to keep men out of women’s sports, and the NCAA policy change on February 6, 2025, restricting women’s competition to biological females, Oregon legislators stress the need for OSAA to align with these national standards.

“As sponsors of House Bill 2037, we are committed to ensuring fairness in women’s athletics and protecting opportunities for female athletes,” said Representative Yunker. “With national policies now in place, OSAA must act to maintain a level playing field in Oregon high school sports.”

“As a former teacher, principal, and superintendent, I know how strong and talented young women in our schools are,” said Representative Wright. “We must stand up for women’s rights to privacy and fair competition by ensuring that men aren’t going into the women’s locker room and protecting women’s sports.”

“As the 2012 1-A Oregon Girls Basketball Coach of the Year and past women’s basketball coach at a small college, I will do everything I can to keep women’s sports fair and safe,” said Representative Harbick. “OSAA needs to act in keeping boys out of girls’ sports.”

“Oregon needs to get boys out of girls’ sports,” said Representative Diehl. “The OSAA needs to act immediately and decisively. This is about protecting the dignity and safety of girls.”

“It was wrong for the OSAA to crown a boy as state champion of the girl’s 200-meter race in 2024,” said Representative Reschke. “The OSAA needs to immediately reverse its policy concerning boys competing in girl’s sports to protect the integrity of the sport and the dignity of female athletes.”

“Women deserve to compete at the highest level of competition in a fair and safe environment, which is why this bill has my full support,” said Representative Smith. “I hope to encourage and support all young women looking to compete athletically and make sure they are safe while doing so.”