OKC Standard

Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma has raised concerns over the recent blocking of a bill intended to protect female athletes. The Republican Conference Vice Chair hosted an event emphasizing the need for protections in women's sports, following opposition from Democrats.

During his remarks, Lankford shared personal insights as a father of two daughters who participated in cross-country running during their school years. He highlighted the importance of separate competitions for male and female athletes due to inherent differences in athletic performance. "I am a proud dad of two amazing daughters," Lankford stated, emphasizing that competition should be fair and equal.

Lankford expressed concern about recent movements advocating for transgender individuals to compete in women’s sports categories. He questioned the fairness of such policies: "The question is, who is that fair to? Is that fair to this transgender individual or is that fair to the other female athletes?"

The debate continues as lawmakers grapple with balancing inclusivity and fairness in competitive sports.