Wyoming has always been a place where the values of fairness and common sense guide our decisions. As the first state to grant women the right to vote, we showed the nation that Wyoming leads when it comes to equal opportunity. Now, we can lead again, ensuring our daughters and granddaughters can pursue their dreams with the same sense of fairness and security.
Protecting opportunities for women and girls in sports and safeguarding their privacy and safety in spaces like bathrooms and locker rooms are not new ideas—they’re common-sense measures that reflect the values we all share.
As we approach the upcoming legislative session, the Wyoming Legislature has the opportunity to act by setting clear policies that provide fairness and safety for women and certainty for schools, universities, and correctional facilities as they navigate these issues.
That is why I’m introducing two bills focused on safeguarding the rights of women and girls in Wyoming: one that protects the integrity of women’s sports and another that ensures privacy and safety in spaces where it matters most.
For generations, Wyoming families have cheered on their daughters on the field, the court, and the track. We’ve watched them work hard, persevere, and achieve their goals. Sports are about more than competition—they’re about confidence, teamwork, and the life lessons learned through striving for excellence. But fairness in sports is under threat when boys are allowed to compete on girls’ teams.
Two years ago, the Wyoming Legislature acted to protect fairness by passing a law that ensures boys cannot compete in girls’ sports in grades 7-12. That law has stood unchallenged and has proven to be clear and effective. However, the NCAA has failed to adopt a policy that ensures fairness for women but instead gave in to a patchwork of unaccountable national and international organizations. But I’ve heard from many of you it is time to fix the gap, and I agree.
The amendment I am proposing to the Student Eligibility in Sports Act would extend these protections to collegiate sports, covering the University of Wyoming and our community colleges. It ensures that eligibility standards are based on biological sex, protecting fairness from grade school through college. This isn’t about shutting anyone out—it’s about giving every young woman the chance to compete on a level playing field. The amendment provides legal remedies to hold institutions accountable if those rights are violated.
The second bill I am introducing is the Protecting Women’s Privacy in Public Spaces Act, which is just as important. This bill ensures that women and girls can feel safe and respected in places where privacy is essential—bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, and correctional facilities.
We have all heard stories of discomfort and fear when policies aren’t clear, leaving institutions scrambling to balance privacy concerns with the risk of lawsuits. It’s time for the legislature to act.
The Protecting Women’s Privacy in Public Spaces Act provides clarity and creates consistent policies that prioritize privacy and safety. Like the sports amendment, this bill also gives women a way to hold institutions accountable when those protections are violated.
These proposals are not about division or exclusion. They’re about fairness, safety, and ensuring that Wyoming remains a place where we look out for one another—a place where our daughters and granddaughters can compete, thrive, and feel safe in every aspect of their lives.
Wyoming has always been a state where we care for our neighbors and believe in doing what’s right. These bills reflect those values and allow us to lead again. Together, we can ensure a bright future for the next generation—one where fairness and dignity are never in question.
Martha Lawley lives in Worland and has represented District 27 in the House of Representatives in the Wyoming State Legislature since 2023.
