Pens letter urging action, calling out Biden administration and Montana Supreme Court

HELENA, MT – Governor Greg Gianforte recently sent a letter to the Montana Board of Regents urging them to adopt policies that protect women’s sports in light of recent trends upending the fair, level playing field for collegiate female athletes.

In the letter, the governor outlined attempts by the Biden administration and activists to undermine the integrity of women’s sports. Recently, the Biden administration revised Title IX regulations to weaken the principle of equal opportunity for girls and young women competing in sports. In April, the Montana Supreme Court ruled House Bill 112, Montana’s “Save Women’s Sports Act,” unconstitutional for college and university settings.

“The misguided ruling from the Montana Supreme Court eliminates important protections for female athletes on our college and university campuses, allowing biological men to compete against them. This is unacceptable. While I disagree with the Court’s analysis, it leaves open a path for the Board of Regents to enact policies to protect girls and women on Montana’s colleges and universities,” the governor wrote. 

In May 2021, the governor signed HB 112 into law to ban transgender athletes from competing as the gender they identify with in college sports.

Gov. Gianforte continued, “I also request that you join me in calling on the National Collegiate Athletics Association to guarantee fair competition for women and girls in women’s sports. You undoubtedly will hear the loud voices of activists who claim biological men should be able to compete against young women in collegiate athletics, and that failing to acquiesce will deprive these men of the opportunity to compete. That’s simply not true: men can compete against other men. Do not let a loud vocal minority dissuade you from doing the right thing for girls and young women.”

In October 2023, the governor joined eight governors in calling on the National Collegiate Athletics Association to guarantee fair competition for women and girls in women’s sports.

Read the governor’s full letter to the Montana Board of Regents here.