When Washington Stops You Cold: A Day at the Supreme Court

Some moments in Washington are planned. Others just… hit you mid-stride.

On a recent trip to the Hill, my business partner and I were doing what we always do, bouncing between Senate and House offices, advocating for defense priorities in this year’s NDAA. If you’ve done the DC shuffle, you know the route. Senate buildings, across the plaza, past the Supreme Court, then over to the House side. Comfortable shoes are not optional.

That day, the Supreme Court was hearing oral arguments in a case with major national implications. The question was whether biological males should be allowed to compete in women’s sports.

We didn’t plan to be there. We weren’t looking for a rally. We were just trying to get to our next meeting on time. But as we got closer to the Court, it was obvious something bigger was happening.

Two Americas, Same Steps

On one side of the Court, there was a crowd pushing policies that erase biological sex in the name of “inclusion.” The tone was tense, loud, and honestly a little hostile. It wasn’t really about women or girls. It felt more like ideology first, reality later.

Then we kept walking.

The other side of the steps felt completely different. Calm. Grounded. Focused.

There were women, men, parents, athletes, little girls, grandparents. People from all backgrounds, all ages, all showing up for one very simple idea:

Sex matters.

At the podium were voices many of us recognize. Riley Gaines. Sage Steele. Members of Congress actually willing to say out loud what a lot of people believe but are tired of getting yelled at for saying.

Women deserve their own spaces. Their own sports. The protections that were fought for, not gifted.

Why This Hit Me Personally

I work in a male-dominated field. Every single day, I benefit from the women who came before me and fought for a seat at the table.

So standing there, watching this debate unfold on the steps of the Supreme Court, was a little surreal.

Not because people disagree. Disagreement is normal. It’s healthy.

But because we’ve gotten to a point where simply acknowledging biological sex is treated like some kind of radical position.

It’s not.

Women’s sports exist because women were excluded. Title IX exists because women were at a disadvantage. Pretending biology doesn’t matter doesn’t move us forward. It quietly undoes everything those women worked for.

What Actually Gave Me Hope

What stuck with me wasn’t just the speakers. It was the crowd.

The people standing for women’s sports weren’t angry. They didn’t need to be. They were steady. Clear. Confident.

It was moms thinking about their daughters. Athletes thinking about fairness. People who just… haven’t lost their common sense.

Standing there in the middle of a workday, in between meetings and emails and everything else, I felt something you don’t always feel in politics.

Relief.

Common sense is still out there. Women are not alone. And people are finally starting to say what should never have been controversial in the first place.

Why I’m Sharing This

I’m sharing this with the RWCPL because these conversations matter. And because women should be able to talk about this honestly without immediately being labeled, dismissed, or told to sit down.

We can be compassionate and still be grounded in reality.

We can support women without apologizing for it.

And we can protect the rights that were fought for without pretending they don’t exist.

Also, for the record, not every important moment in DC happens inside a meeting room.

Sometimes it’s the thing you walk past on your way to your next meeting that sticks with you the most.

And For Real Life Conversations…

Because let’s be honest, this topic comes up everywhere. School events, dinners, group chats, probably even places you wish it wouldn’t.

You don’t need to be a policy expert. You don’t need a speech. Half the time, a calm, clear sentence lands better than a 10-minute argument.

A few go-to lines:

On the core issue“This isn’t about politics. It’s about fairness.”“Sex matters in sports because biology matters.”“Women’s sports exist for a reason.”

On compassion vs. reality“We can be compassionate without denying reality.”“Protecting women’s sports doesn’t require putting anyone down.”“This isn’t hateful. It’s honest.”

On Title IX“Title IX was created to protect women, not redefine them.”“Women didn’t fight for decades to have their category erased.”

On inclusion“Inclusion shouldn’t mean girls lose opportunities.”“Equality doesn’t mean everyone competes in the same category.”

On why it matters“This affects scholarships, safety, and fairness.”“Girls deserve a level playing field. Literally.”

If you’re done with the conversation“We’re probably not going to agree, and that’s okay.”“I’m comfortable with my position.”“I’ve thought this through.”