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Why This Movement Matters
Because the truth matters. The movement against gender ideology, in defense of women’s and girls’ sex-based rights, is on the brink of going mainstream. Despite 80% of Americans agreeing that women and girls deserve their own sports, most are still silent on the issue — especially regarding men claiming to be women in sports and other female-only spaces.
When pro athletes speak out, they face backlash. Elizabeth Eddy of Angel City FC wrote an op-ed defending women’s soccer, only to be publicly criticized by teammates. We’re not done yet, but more voices are starting to join the cause.
Brave Voices Joining the Movement
Many athletes are now less afraid to speak out, despite potential sponsorship or team risks. Others, like singer Tish Hyman, are encountering these issues firsthand and joining the movement for the first time. Many people simply didn’t know the extent of men taking opportunities in women’s sports, and mainstream media often downplays the problem.
Every day, awareness grows, and more women are saying: “We’re not doing this anymore.” When enough people join, change can happen.
The Movement’s Origins
This movement has been around for over two decades. It did not start with conservative women — it began with radical feminists, who have long warned of the threats gender ideology poses to sex-based rights. This is a broad coalition, standing together to defend biological reality.
Phase 1: The Rise of “Transgender” (1990s–2010)
The term “transgender” emerged in the early 1990s. Few spoke out against the idea that men could become women, but some radical feminists, like Janice Raymond (author of The Transexual Empire), saw the coming issues. Her book exposed antifeminist stereotyping and challenged the notion of men transitioning to women.
Phase 2: Organizing Feminist Resistance (2013–2015)
The Women’s Liberation Front (WoLF) formed in 2013 to discuss trans ideology’s impact on women’s rights. Radical feminists in the UK held conferences in 2012 and 2013, warning of threats posed by men identifying as women.
Sheila Jeffreys published Gender Hurts in 2014, critiquing gender ideology and arguing for the abolition of gender as a social construct. The same year, WoLF began organizing in Portland, Oregon.
At this time, parents were reporting girls suddenly identifying as “trans,” often after emotional or psychological distress. Rapid medicalization followed, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy. Many families were blindsided.
Phase 3: Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria & Institutional Shifts (2015–2020)
The term rapid onset gender dysphoria (ROGD) emerged to describe a growing cultural trend. After same-sex marriage was federally legalized in 2015, advocacy groups like GLAAD and HRC pivoted to focus on transgender rights.
In 2017, WoLF co-founder Kara Dansky publicly opposed the Obama administration’s gender identity policies, building a wider coalition despite backlash.
By 2018, changes in the UK Gender Recognition Act and high-profile actions by feminists like Kellie-Jay Keen and J.K. Rowling brought the issue into the mainstream conversation.
Phase 4: The NCAA Swim Finals (2022)
The movement gained global attention when Will Thomas tied for 5th with Riley Gaines at the NCAA Swim Finals. And Gaines was told she'd need to step aside and let Thomas accept the trophy.
Phase 5 & 6: Growing Awareness and Legal Momentum
After early wins and setbacks, the movement faces periods of frustration but continues to grow. A majority of Americans now support Trump-era protections for women’s sex-based rights. Two upcoming Supreme Court cases will decide whether women have a legal right to their own sports categories, a potential turning point for the movement.
Remembering the First Voices
It’s critical to honor the radical feminists who first spoke out, often facing hostility when no one else would. Their courage paved the way for today’s broader coalition of women defending biological reality in sports and other women-only spaces.
The fight continues, but every brave voice joining strengthens the movement for women’s and girls’ rights.
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