Despite claiming to value “equity” and “kindness,” the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute canceled a celebration of girls’ sports and Title IX just weeks before the event, revealing a clear bias against traditional values regarding women’s athletics.
Key Takeaways
- The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute abruptly canceled the Independent Women’s Forum’s “Her Game. Her Legacy.” Title IX celebration, falsely labeling it a “partisan political event.”
- Organizers learned of the venue’s cancellation through a Facebook post rather than direct communication, despite having a nine-page binding contract.
- The event was quickly relocated to the Inn and Spa at Loretto and will proceed as planned with Education Secretary Linda McMahon and female athletes in attendance.
- The Independent Women’s Forum is pursuing legal action against the venue for breach of contract and First Amendment violations.
- The celebration marks the 53rd anniversary of Title IX and kicks off a bus tour across New Mexico supporting girls’ sports.
Venue Cancellation Exposes Anti-Traditional Values Agenda
In a troubling display of progressive bias, the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute canceled a celebration of Title IX and girls’ sports organized by the Independent Women’s Forum. The venue justified this last-minute cancellation by incorrectly labeling the family-friendly event as a “partisan political event.” This decision came just weeks before the scheduled date, leaving organizers scrambling to salvage their carefully planned celebration of female athletic achievement.
“As much as we support free speech, we want to make it clear that SFFMI is in disagreement with the message and intent of this particular event,” Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute.
The timing of the cancellation is particularly suspect, as it followed a news report highlighting New Mexico’s stance on transgender rights. Despite the Institute’s claims about the event’s political nature, organizers have consistently maintained that the celebration was designed to be non-partisan and focused solely on empowering female athletes. The venue’s actions represent yet another example of progressive institutions shutting down traditional values regarding biological women’s rights and achievements.
Organizers Stand Strong Against Discrimination
The Independent Women’s Forum was blindsided by the cancellation, learning about it only after the venue posted their decision on Facebook. This unprofessional handling compounded the breach of a detailed nine-page contract. Rather than backing down, the organization has announced plans to sue the venue for both breach of contract and violation of their First Amendment rights, highlighting the growing trend of conservative viewpoints being silenced in public spaces.
“This is not a rally. This is not any type of political event. It’s a non-partisan, non-political celebration,” Beth Parlato, Independent Women’s Forum.
Victory Coley, one of the event organizers, pointed out the broader implications of the venue’s decision: “They’re not just canceling our event. They are canceling little girls. They are betraying girls and women, female athletes. They’re canceling all of that.” This cancellation exemplifies how progressive ideology increasingly prioritizes trans-inclusive policies over the rights and opportunities of biological women, the very group Title IX was designed to protect.
Event Will Proceed Despite Opposition
Refusing to be silenced, the Independent Women’s Forum quickly secured an alternative venue at the Inn and Spa at Loretto, thanks to the hotel’s general manager who recognized the importance of supporting women’s athletics. The event will feature Education Secretary Linda McMahon and numerous female athletes as originally planned. It marks the 53rd anniversary of Title IX and will launch a bus tour across New Mexico promoting girls’ sports.
“We had a contract. It is a nine-page contract, a legal and binding contract, and it’s pretty solid. They don’t agree with their message, so they have canceled us. And it’s illegal. So in our opinion, our legal opinion, they have breached the contract. They have discriminated against Independent Women. And they have violated our First Amendment rights by acknowledging that they don’t agree with their message, so they’re not allowing us on their property. So we will file lawsuits,” Beth Parlato, Independent Women’s Forum.
The group had invested significant resources into the event, including staff, entertainment, and marketing. Their determination to proceed despite obstacles demonstrates a commitment to preserving women’s sports in their traditional form. While the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute claims to value “equity” and “kindness,” their actions reveal a clear double standard when it comes to supporting biological women’s rights in athletics.
Legal Action Underway
The Independent Women’s Forum is not taking this discrimination lying down. They are preparing legal action against the venue for clear violations of contract law and constitutional rights. This case may set an important precedent for other conservative organizations facing similar discrimination from venues claiming to support inclusivity while actively excluding traditional viewpoints.
“Our intention is to serve them with a lawsuit because we’re not letting them get away with it. We did not do all of this to get canceled by a small group of people who chose not to support girls. So it’s unconscionable what they’re doing,” Beth Parlato, Independent Women’s Forum.
Despite the venue’s attempts to silence them, the Independent Women’s Forum remains committed to their mission of celebrating and protecting girls’ sports under Title IX. Their perseverance in the face of progressive opposition serves as an inspiration to parents and athletes nationwide who believe in preserving fair competition and opportunities for biological women in athletics.
