Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, on April 18, five brave young girls had the courage to stand up for their rights in Harrison County, West Virginia. These 13-year-old girls showed more guts and courage in their convictions than most grownups. These student athletes competed in the 2024 Harrison County Middle School Championship track and field meet. These girls from Lincoln Middle School stepped up to the circle for their turn before refusing to throw in the shot put event. They were showing solidarity in protest of the participation of Becky Pepper-Jackson, a 13-year-old boy. Pepper-Jackson won the event by recording a throw of 32 feet. The second-place competitor, who was actually a female, finished with a 29- foot throw. West Virginia State law bans transgenders--in other words, boys pretending to be girls--from playing on girls' sports teams. However, a recent Federal court ruled the law could not be lawfully applied to Pepper-Jackson. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey quickly stepped up and filed an amicus brief in support of the five athletes and asked the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on transgender student-athlete bans for a second time on behalf of the parents who filed a complaint with the local county board of education. As a result of their protest and appearance at a press conference with West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, the five girls were barred from competing in their next track meet and also subject to punitive sprints in practice.…”