ALEXANDRIA, VA — In its ongoing effort to spotlight which leaders truly stand with women and which do not, Independent Women’s Voice today announced a new ad campaign in Northern Virginia featuring women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines. The campaign exposes gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger for her anti-women voting record and underscores the urgent need to focus on candidates’ actions, not words.

The ads expose the reality that men are still competing in women’s sports and gaining access to women’s private spaces—undermining fairness and security for women and girls. At the center of the campaign is the Riley Gaines Stand with Women scorecard, which grades incumbents and candidates on whether they support legislation that preserves female opportunities and private spaces. Reformer U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger has received a “failed” score for her 2024 against the ”Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act”.

“Women’s unique opportunities and accomplishments should be celebrated and protected, but in Virginia men are still competing in women’s sports and accessing women’s private spaces, like locker rooms,” said Riley Gaines in the ad. “Your elected leaders—like Abigail Spanberger—are failing you. In Congress, she voted to keep men playing in women’s sports—that’s radical. She says she is for women, but her record is not. Which matters to you—words or actions? See it for yourself with the Riley Gaines Stand with Women Scorecard.”

Watch Riley Gaines’ Stand With Women Virginia Ad.

In May, Independent Women’s Voice launched a radio ad campaign in Virginia highlighting Abigail Spanberger’s failure to stand with women and her vote against protecting women’s sports–which Riley Gaines calls “radical.” Although over 80% of swing voters agree that women’s sports and single-sex spaces should be protected, Spanberger’s voting record has proven she will not stand with women as governor of Virginia.

Carrie Lukas, president of Independent Women, said: “Virginia parents have been on the front lines in the battle for protecting students from radical gender ideology. We have had sexual predators undressing in our daughters’ locker rooms. We want to know if Virginia leaders actually are going to stand on the side of sanity and say men cannot enter and watch girls’ undress in their locker rooms.  We want to know who will actually say ‘girls’ sports should be female-only.’ Some–like Abigail Spanberger–clearly don’t want to answer that question. The Riley Gaines Scorecard provides the answers.”

Beth Parlato, senior legal counsel for Independent Women’s Law Center, said: “When given the chance to protect the integrity of women’s sports, Abigail Spanberger turned her back on female athletes. As a mother to three daughters, she should know better! If she failed to stand up for our daughters in Washington, why should we trust her to support women as governor? The truth is, we can’t. She puts politics ahead of fairness and safety, and Virginia deserves a governor who will defend women, not abandon them. As a Virginia voter, I choose to recognize the unique value of female sports, not just for today but for future generations. I have a granddaughter whose opportunities and safety are on the line. She deserves a world where she is respected and protected, and Virginia needs leadership that will put her first.”

Independent Women’s Network has 3 chapters in Virginia and 2,000 engaged members. Independent Women’s Network builds communities across the country, educating and engaging grassroots members to create an influential movement of local voices.

BACKGROUND:

The Riley Gaines Stand With Women Scorecard is a first-of-its-kind resource that scores candidates for federal and state office on whether they intend to support legislation that preserves female opportunities and private spaces. In partnering with Riley Gaines, the scorecard will help raise widespread awareness to the public and hold policymakers accountable for standing up against the increasing threats to women’s rights, opportunities, and spaces. 

The scorecard has three factors that contribute to an “approved” score: 

  • Candidates that have signed the Stand with Women Commitment or publicly declared their support for female-only sports and acknowledged the differences between the two sexes;
  • Congressional incumbents who have voted “YAY” to pass the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act” (H.R. 28), voted “YAY” to repeal the Biden-Harris administration’s illegal administrative rewrite of Title IX (H.R. 734), and/or voted “YAY” on H.J.Res. 165;
  • Senate incumbents must have co-sponsored the Congressional Review Act resolution to strike down the Biden administration’s unlawful Title IX regulation (S.J. Res. 9), voted to allow the “Protections of Women and Girls in Sports Act” to have a floor vote, and/or co-sponsored S.J.Res 96.

For media inquiries, please email [email protected].

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