Today, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon joined female athletes and advocates at the “Her Game, Her Legacy” event in Santa Fe, New Mexico to celebrate the 53rd anniversary of Title IX of the Education Amendments Act, which was passed on June 23, 1972.
The event, hosted by the Independent Women's Forum (IWF), featured remarks from Secretary McMahon as well as from IWF Vice President of Communications Victoria Coley; former New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez; athletes and coaches including Payton McNabb, Linnea Saltz, and Kim Russell; and New Mexico parents.
The event is part of the U.S. Department of Education’s ongoing recognition of June as ‘Title IX Month’ in honor of the 53rd anniversary of the law and to highlight women’s rights to equal educational opportunities.
“Today, we’re honoring the 53rd anniversary of Title IX and the incredible resilience of female athletes who are standing up and pushing back against the harms of gender ideology. The Trump Administration is putting a stop to the madness that was allowed under the previous administration,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Thank you to the athletes, parents, and advocates who are fighting alongside us. We will not let up, and we will not let you down.”
“I’m forever thankful I had the opportunity to compete because of Title IX. I’m proud to celebrate the women who came before me and fought for fairness in sports, and I’m committed to continuing that fight for the next generation," said IWF Sports Ambassador Payton McNabb. "We are moving in the right direction, but there is still much to be done!”
Background:
As part of its first ‘Title IX Month’ initiatives, the Department announced two Title IX directed investigations into the University of Wyoming and Jefferson County Public Schools in Colorado for allegedly allowing males to join and live in female-only intimate and communal spaces.
The Department also announced that it was elevating its Title IX investigations into the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) to the Title IX Special Investigations Team, which is comprised of both the Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice. This followed reports that a male athlete from Champlin Park High School competed in a girls’ MSHSL softball match and dominated the competition, leading Champlin to a state championship.
Title IX and its implementing regulations prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
