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Hi, my name is Evie Edwards and I am an Ambassador to Save Womens Sports - we have traveled all over the country supporting states that have proposed legislation to protect girls and women sport based on sex/biology, not gender. 

USA Cycling has moved Mountain Bike Marathon Nationals OUT of Arkansas, because Arkansas passed legislation that states women in sport should not be forced to compete with male bodies. " 

When I first started speaking out about male bodies in women's sport, it was from the perspective of being an athlete at UCI Masters Track Worlds - where I witnessed a male body take a gold medal and a world record that should have been won by a woman, not a transgender woman.

As a result of my Facebook posts (articles and scientific studies questioning the fairness of inclusion, and respectful discussion), I was attacked by groups who threatened my sponsorship and team affiliations. Most women do not speak out about the unfairness of male bodies in cycling because they are threatened with sponsorship loss, job pressure, and or college/university affiliation.

I plan to race at Mountain Bike Marathon Nationals, representing Save Women Sports- and show those who have been silenced  that we are fighting for better policies, and biological protections, in sport. I need your support.

USA Cycling policy on transgender inclusion states simply that biological males who wish to participate as a female, do nothing but identify as female if they are category 3, 4 or 5. Reducing male hormones for competition is not required unless a transgender athlete is categorized as a cat 2 or 1. The exception is in Mountain biking- only professionals have to adhere to a reduction in hormone levels, Cat 1, 2, and 3 only have to identify as female.  At the Collegiate level, no hormone reduction is required at all. Even  when hormone levels are reduced, transgender women are only required to reduce hormones for 12 months prior to competition, and those levels are still 10-20 times higher than a typical female. Beyond hormone levels, biological men are born with a wealth of physical characteristics that advantage them over women (ability to produce lean muscle mass, bone structure and size, blood volume, heart size, to name but a few). Women who age into masters level competition are not allowed to take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in menopause to reinstate natural levels, yet transgender women are allowed to regulate their hormones as they age. From beginner female cyclists (category 5) to every level thereafter, transgender inclusion in women's sport is unfair.

For more information on the advantages of the male body in sport: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-020-01389-3

I am asking for support to race at Masters Mountain Bike Marathon Nationals in Frederick, MD- the new venue hastily chosen by USA Cycling, because Arkansas passed Senate Bill 450; " "This law simply says that female athletes should not have to compete in a sport against a student of the male sex when the sport is designed for women’s competition,” Hutchinson said in a statement released by his office. “As I have stated previously, I agree with the intention of this law. This will help promote and maintain fairness in women’s sporting events.”"

About me:

I am a wife, and a mom to two elementary-aged children. I was an NCAA cross-country 4 year athlete at Valdosta State University. I started a women's cycling team/nonprofit in Chapel Hill, NC in 2011. I am a UCI Masters World Silver Medalist, I have won national USA Cycling titles in Tandem, and Track, and have been on the podium multiple times at national events in Cyclocross, Track Cycling, and Road Cycling. I am a category 1 competitor and I believe that sport should be sex-based. I believe that all humans deserve to be treated with respect and that the conversation about integrating transgender athletes into sport should not involve forcing women to race with male bodies. I am united with women all over the world who agree with Beth Stelzer's words, "Women are not a hormone level!"

The money raised will go toward sponsoring me with equipment, race entry, and travel. 

(Make sure to comment in the notes section that your donation is for Evie)