Both Vice President Kamala Harris and First Lady Jill Biden held events in Washington on Wednesday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which in particular helped women’s sports.
Middle school students from Washington, D.C., had gathered for a “field day” activity on the grounds of American University when Harris appeared with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff in tow.
In a black pant suit and stiletto heels, the vice president attempted to shoot baskets. On her sixth attempt, she finally made the shot.
Before Harris’ successful try, Emhoff suggested, “Bend your knees.”
The basketball clinic was being assisted by students from Harris’ alma mater Howard University, which is a few miles away from AU’s campus.
The Women’s Sports Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education jointly held Field Day.
Harris also looked at the Girl Scouts’ electrolytes science experiment that some of the girls had been working on in another area of the gym.
Earlier on Wednesday, Dr. Biden attended a State Department-sponsored event in Washington, D.C.’s Capital One Arena with tennis icon Billie Jean King to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Title IX and the 10th anniversary of the Department of State-espnW Global Sports Mentoring Program.
For fifty years, Title IX gave girls and women the freedom to be more. Dr. Biden added, “To be bigger, brighter, stronger, smarter, more capable, and courageous. It has improved fairness in our colleges and schools.
The first lady, a professor at a community college, addressed the audience, “Title IX is who we are as a nation.”
King encouraged the administration to make sure that Title IX is being followed in schools.
The tennis player claimed that white, suburban girls have been Title IX’s main beneficiaries.
Let’s use this significant anniversary to redouble our efforts to reinforce and advance equity and opportunity for all girls and women, but especially those who have been left behind by the law, such as trans athletes, girls of color, girls with disabilities, and all LGBTQ+ kids, King said.
We must look ahead, she continued.
This election cycle, a number of Republican candidates have brought up the participation of trans people in women’s sports, making it a contentious issue.