FHSAA House Rep Letter

Florida House of Representatives
February 7, 2023
Via U.S. postal mail and email
President John Gerdes
Florida High School Athletics Association
1801 NW 80th Boulevard
Gainesville, FL 32606
Dear FHSAA President John Gerdes and Board of Directors:
It has come to our attention that the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) is
contemplating requiring female student athletes to disclose their menstruation cycle in the physical
form they must fill out as a condition to participate in organized sports. These new reporting
requirements would be highly invasive and no girl should be forced to disclose her bodily functions
to someone who is not her mother, father, caretaker, or physician.
The rights of all girls in sports, including their right to privacy, must be respected as afforded in
the State of Florida’s Constitution. Young girls playing in organized sports, no matter what
religious belief, sexual orientation, or bodily functions, are protected by our State Constitution.
Specifically, Section 23 of the Florida Constitution states: “SECTION 23. Right of privacy. —
Every natural person has the right to be let alone and free from governmental intrusion into
the person’s private life except as otherwise provided herein.”
There is absolutely no reason for the FHSAA to collect such private information and no reason
why the schools need it. It is our understanding that if the FHSAA were to implement this
menstruation reporting requirement, other school personnel like a coach or athletic director would
also have access to this highly sensitive information. We ask that you and the Board of Directors
individually provide answers to the following questions by March 7, 2023:
Page 1 of 3
1. What is the science behind requiring that girls report their menstruation cycle to participate
in organized sports?
2. Why is this question being considered now?
3. If parents do not feel comfortable in reporting their daughters’ menstruation cycle as a
condition to participate in organized sports, can the student participate without filling out
that portion of the form? If not, why not?
4. Has any member serving on the Board of Directors raised any concerns or objections? If
so, what were they?
5. What security measures has the Board considered to prevent this personal information from
being accessed by anyone or is that an afterthought?
6. How is this proposal HIPAA compliant?
The FHSAA requiring Florida’s female athletes to report their menstruation cycle is an egregious
overreach and is not needed. Above all, we respectfully ask the FHSAA rescind its unfounded
and unnecessary menstruation reporting requirement proposal. We urge your prompt
attention to this matter.
Yours in service,
_________________________
State Representative Fentrice Driskell, District 67
Leader, Florida House Democratic Caucus
Representative Gallop Franklin II, District 8

Representative Allison Tant, District 9
Representative Angela “Angie” Nixon, District 13
Representative Yvonne H. Hinson, District 21
Representative LaVon Bracy Davis, District 40
Representative Anna V. Eskamani, District 42
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Representative Johanna López, District 43

Representative Jennifer “Rita” Harris, District 44
Representative Kristen A. Arrington, District 46
Representative Lindsay M. Cross, District 60
Representative Michele K. Rayner-Goolsby, District 62
Representative Dianne Hart, District 63
Representative Susan L. Valdés, District 64
Representative Jervonte “Jae” Edmonds, District 88
Representative Joe Casello, District 90
Representative Kelly Skidmore, District 92
Representative Katherine Waldron, District 93
Representative Christine Hunschofsky, District 95
Representative Dan Daley, District 96
Representative Patricia Williams, District 98
Representative Daryl Campbell, District 99
Representative Hillary Cassel, District 101
Representative Michael “Mike” Gottlieb, District 102
Representative Robin Bartleman, District 103
Representative Felicia S. Robinson District 104
Representative Marie P. Woodson, District 105
Representative Dotie Joseph, District 108
Representative Ashley Gantt, District 109
Representative Kevin Chambliss, District 117
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Florida House of Representatives

Dear FHSAA President John Gerdes and Board of Directors:

Representative Gallop Franklin II, District 8

Representative Johanna López, District 43

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