Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act Held Up for Third Time - Part 2

February 9, 2026

Sen. Bryant Richardson

This is part two of the discussion on the hearing for Senate Bill 215, the Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act.

First, I want to mention that last week I received some good news.

The Delaware School Board Association’s Legislative Committee voted Wednesday, Feb. 4, to support Senate Bill 215.

I am hopeful that this support will help persuade enough members of the Senate Education Committee to sign the bill out of committee.

A majority of signatures is needed for a bill to be released from committee. In the seven-member Senate Education Committee four signatures are needed.

Republicans Eric Buckson and Dave Lawson are co-sponsors of SB 215. The signatures of two Democrats are needed.

Democrat committee chair Senator Laura Sturgeon made it clear she is not in favor of releasing the bill.

The other Democrats on the committee are Senators Elizabeth Lockman, Stephanie Hansen, Nicole Poore and David P. Sokola.

I hope voters will contact these senators and urge them to allow SB 215 out of committee for a full vote on the Senate floor.

If interested in helping, go to legis.delaware.gov and look up those senators and leave them a message, asking them to sign the bill out of committee.

Next, I want to continue with profiles of some of those who submitted testimonies as key witnesses. They included:

• Attorney Tom Neuberger of Wilmington for almost 52 years has been the top expert in Civil Rights and Constitutional law in the Delaware Bar.

His involvement in the issue of protecting girls sports under Title IX started in the 1970s. He forced the public schools to offer girls their own girls soccer teams, as there were none before. He also forced them to pay women who coached girls the same higher rate of pay that men received.

He has three pages of credentials that I entered into the record.

• Peggy Kellers is in the Softball Hall of Fame. Here’s a brief sketch of her background:

In the late 1980s to mid 1990s she was a consultant and advocate for Title IX with the National Organization for Girls & Women in Sports (Reston, VA).

Her background includes coaching, mostly college level, and sports psychology.

In her high school & college days she played softball on a National & World Championship team for 12 years.

She is in the USA Softball Hall of Fame as a catcher.

She moved to Dover in June, 2021. 



• Dr. Michelle Parsons is a general practice physician practicing in Rehoboth Beach. In her current practice, she cares for many transgender men and women.

She actively manages hormone protocols, monitors laboratory values, and assists patients through transition-related care. 

Treating both transgender and non-transgender patients gives her a practical, real-world understanding of what hormonal treatment can change and what it cannot.

I appreciate all the expert testimony and the comments from the public in person and on line.

Next week I will offer my thoughts about why SB 215 is being stalled in committee.

And I will talk about a subtle threat that came from someone who signed up to speak on line against the bill and against me.

Send comments to bryant.richardson@delaware.gov.