Sophie Cunningham is grabbing the attention of women's advocacy groups.
Patti Garibay founded American Heritage Girls in 1993 as a way to keep faith in the Girl Scout mission, but as she feels biological girls' and women's safe spaces have been taken over by biological men, she now has a new goal in mind.
"There's so much confusion around it. What were traditionally safe spaces and places for women are no longer safe spaces and places," Garibay said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. "And now parents, even when they're calling our office asking about potentially bringing their daughter into American Heritage Girls, the question is about policies, membership policies, and are you biologically female, or do you allow others in, because all of the other organizations, youth organizations are now allowing boys that say that they feel like they're girls into these intimate spaces and places, such as the cabin at the camp or the locker room at the sports team.
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"These are of grave concerns to parents because they want those safe places for their daughters to be able to really thrive, not worry about competition of biological male against them."
The issue has now gone well into the sports conversation, and Garibay is wondering, "Why have a WNBA if we're going to allow guys in?"
That's why Garibay felt a sigh of relief when Cunningham showed her support for keeping trans athletes out of biological girls' sports.
"I think Sophie has had great courage and that is what we teach American Heritage Girls to have, to have courage to stand up for what's right and not worry so much about the potential loss that's involved because when you do the right thing, you are rewarded in different ways," Garibay said, while admitting she was "disappointed" that Caitlin Clark did not directly address it when recently asked.
SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM SEES SUPPORT SURGE AFTER STAR PUTS CAREER ON LINE FOR GIRLS SPORTS
"I felt like that was a little bit of a concern. Probably her handlers suggested that she avoid that at all costs. Sophie, on the other hand, has decided to get into the miry waters of this and to stand for what I believe is truth."
Garibay, though, is adamant that there are "lots of opportunities" for trans youth to be included.
"There's so many other opportunities for them to be able to find those places. And I do think perhaps they, just like I had to start American Heritage Girls, perhaps there's something that they can start too that they would feel very good about being amongst themselves and have that support that they so need to address the mental health issues that come along with all of it. It's very positive to have friends and to have allies around you," Garibay said.
"We've been fighting this fight since back in getting rights to vote for goodness sake. This has been going on a long time. Why are we going backwards?"
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