Alliance Defending Freedom CEO, President, and General Counsel Kristen Waggoner took the debate over women’s sports to the international stage last month, addressing United Nations representatives in New York City as her organization pursues landmark cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Speaking at an October 16 panel discussion sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Paraguay, Waggoner emphasized that protecting women’s sports hinges on two fundamental principles: preserving fair competition and ensuring athlete safety.
To illustrate these differences, Waggoner highlighted how, in 2017, thousands of men recorded 400-meter times surpassing the personal bests of Olympic gold medalists Sanya Richards-Ross and Allyson Felix.
The implications of these biological differences extend beyond medals and podiums, Waggoner argued, presenting safety concerns for female athletes.
What is Alliance Defending Freedom?
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, marriage and family, and the sanctity of life.
Alliance Defending Freedom Church & Ministry Alliance, specializes in legal services designed to safeguard religious institutions. This dedicated team works to protect the ability of churches, ministries, and religious organizations to function by their faith-based principles and convictions.
Waggoner’s remarks came amid growing attention to cases like San Jose State University’s women’s volleyball program, where several teams have chosen to forfeit matches due to safety concerns.
Exercise science research supports these concerns, with studies showing male volleyball players typically possess significant advantages in jumping ability and spike velocity.
Alliance Defending Freedom has asked the Supreme Court to hear two cases that could shape the future of women’s sports in America.
In B.P.J. v. West Virginia State Board of Education, Alliance Defending Freedom is representing Armistead in defending West Virginia’s Save Women’s Sports Act. A parallel case, Hecox v. Little, seeks to uphold Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.
These cases could affect similar laws in 25 states across the country.
To reinforce her points about competitive fairness, Waggoner referenced examples from these ongoing legal challenges.
She cited cases where male athletes competing in girls’ categories have broken multiple records and claimed numerous championships, fundamentally altering the competitive landscape of women’s sports.
Waggoner said:
“Our plea to the world is to learn from the mistakes that have been made and that are now being corrected, so that your daughters, so that my daughter can walk into a future of fairness and safety in sport.
On behalf of ADF international, I urge everyone here, the United Nations and all the states and the sports bodies at all levels to uphold the basic human rights of women and girls in sports to recognize the stakes are high, and to draw a line in the sand, protecting fundamental fairness and safety”.
The U.N. presentation marks a significant elevation of this debate to the international stage, as similar discussions unfold across the globe.
As the international community grapples with these questions and the Supreme Court considers whether to hear these pivotal cases, Waggoner’s address at the U.N. headquarters represents a crucial step in broadening the conversation about men in women’s sports from local playing fields to global policy discussions.