We are in a fight to protect the safe spaces of Mississippi’s girls and women

We are in a fight to protect the safe spaces of Mississippi’s girls and women. And I wanted to share an important piece that I hope you’ll read and share with your friends.

My friend and State Senator, Sen. Josh Harkins, recently wrote an op-ed about why he authored the SAFER Act and why he is so passionate about it:

In recent polling conducted by Independent Women’s Voice of registered voters in Mississippi, a remarkable 95% thought it was important that Mississippi law protect private spaces for women. Another 87% believed Mississippi law needs to define sex-based terms such as woman, female, man, and male based on biological sex.

There are good Mississippi bills out there that provide these much-needed sex-based definitions—I support them completely as a first step and sincerely thank my friends behind them. But the definition-only bills do not protect women’s safe spaces.

The SAFER Act, SB 2753, sponsored by Jeremy England and myself, provides these almost identical definitions and then takes the next step to actually protect women’s safe spaces. The 95% polling from Republicans, Independents, and Democrats across our state I hope further strengthens my fellow lawmakers’ resolve to fight for both steps on behalf of women and girls in our state. In addition, the Mississippi Federation of Republican Women (MFRW) is only one of many groups who have come out in favor of the SAFER Act over a definitions-only bill.

In 2021, Mississippi passed the Fairness Act, with MFRW behind it, preventing males from competing in sports against girls and women. That was a needed step in the right direction by those who paved the way; but language that would have protected single-sex spaces was not in the final version of this bill. As each year passes, Mississippi women and girls’ safe spaces remain unprotected.

Sen. Harkins is the father of two precious girls. He understands why this is important, not just as a lawmaker, but as a father.

But time is running out. The SAFER Act must pass out of the House Judiciary A Committee by April 2. Please contact your lawmaker and kindly encourage them to support the SAFER Act—and please thank Senators Harkins and England for sponsoring the SAFER Act!

Find your lawmaker here: https://pluralpolicy.com/find-your-legislator/

Find out who is on the Judiciary A Committee: https://www.legislature.ms.gov/committees/house-committees/

Capitol Switchboard: 601-359-3770

We hope you and your family have a wonderful and worshipful Easter!

– Lesley