In what The Family Foundation of Virginia's Victoria Cobb calls "a major victory for women and girls across the Commonwealth," Virginia's term-limited governor issued Executive Directive 14 last week.
"Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) has instructed the Board of Health to promulgate … or basically get in place regulations that would ensure that only girls compete in girls' sports and only girls can be found in girls' locker rooms," she explains.
The regulations will prevent biological males from participating in organized female-only athletic teams and competitions in Virginia and from using designated female spaces where females are likely to be in a state of undress.
"The health and safety of women and girls in sex separated spaces and participating in athletic competitions is in serious jeopardy due to irresponsible policies, including those that allow known sex offenders to hunt little girls in public locker rooms," the governor said. "It is an embarrassment and a tragedy that certain individuals continue to turn a blind eye to these clear violations of the law and of the health, safety, privacy, dignity, and respect of Virginians. This must stop."
Cobb explains an executive directive is something in which the governor instructs his own personnel, in this case the appointed Board of Health, on what he expects them to do.
This directive follows a 14-0 unanimous decision by Virginia's Board of Health to start pursuing these things.
"For too long, policymakers ignored the voices of women and girls who had been sidelined, silenced, and forced to compete on an unfair playing field," Cobb comments.
The directive still has to work through the regulatory process, but she expects the governor's backing will push things along quickly.
"We look forward to the day where we can officially tell our girls there will be no boys in any of their private spaces or taking their trophies," adds Cobb.
Meanwhile in the state's gubernatorial race, Democrat Abigail Spanberger' campaign has emphasized what she calls the protection of LGBTQ+ rights. In contrast, Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, the current lieutenant governor, has made opposition to transgender protections a cornerstone of her campaign, echoing the "parents' rights" messaging seen in Gov. Youngkin's successful 2021 race.
According to a recent Washington Post/Schar School poll, Spanberger is ahead of Winsome Earle-Sears by 12 points among likely voters (55% to 43%).
If Spanberger wins the gubernatorial race, she would have the authority to rescind Executive Directive 14 and halt the regulatory process that is currently underway.
