Philadelphia native fighting for women
A woman who grew up in Philadelphia is leading the charge to protect women’s rights in the state of Mississippi.
Lesley Alana Andress Davis, president and CEO of Mississippi Advocacy Group, grew up in Neshoba County and now lives in Flowood.
More recently, she has helped with the founding of the Neshoba County Republican Women, an active group led by Rachel Kiepe.
Davis is assisting state Rep. Jill Ford in getting what they call the “Women’s Bill of Rights” passed in the state Legislature and assisting state Sen. Angela Hill in getting the bill passed in the Senate by writing public policy in any area that deals with pro-life, pro-women, and pro-family.
If the bill passes, traditional women’s spaces in places like locker rooms, bathrooms, sorority houses, prisons, and more will prevent biological men and boys identifying as women from entering.
Davis said Gov. Tate Reeves has shown his support for the bill.
Davis recently hosted Riley Gaines, a 12x All-American swimmer, and Paula Scanlan, a former teammate of Lia Thomas at the University of Pennsylvania, at her home in Flowood along with multiple female Mississippi lawmakers.
“Riley and Paula were in Mississippi representing Independent Women’s Voice,” Davis said. “They visited my house on Sep. 25 and it was absolutely packed. While there, they announced they met with Gov. Tate Reeves. That night I thanked the governor, even though he was not at my home, for supporting a bill that would protect women and girls’ safe spaces in Mississippi.”
Independent Women’s Voice (IWV) is the political arm of the Independent Women’s Forum (IWF), a conservative-leaning organization that focuses on policy issues related to women.
“Riley and Paula know what it’s like to have to compete against a man and to share a locker room with a man,” Davis said. “They are some of the most courageous female voices standing up for women in a way that, regrettably, is very much needed in 2023.”
Davis also played a part in trying to pass the Fairness Act in 2021 under the leadership of Sen. Hill, which failed to pass. She said the “Women’s Bill of Rights” is another shot at passing a bill to protect women’s rights in Mississippi.
“I look forward to supporting such a bill next session and I am praying we will all be by Gov. Reeve’s side when he signs it into law next spring,” she said.
State Rep. Jill Ford, a Republican of Madison, who is playing a major part in passing the bill in the Mississippi House, said she had no idea of the insane social issues the country would be facing when she was elected four years ago.
“Our granddaughters’ futures are at stake, and I aim to fight with every ounce of my being to protect them,” Ford said. “I will be proposing legislation in January that will protect women’s safe spaces in support of what Riley Gaines has brought to the public’s attention. Women’s prisons, shelters, locker rooms, and bathrooms will no longer be an optional open door for those born a male.”
To learn more about Mississippi Advocacy Group, join the MAG mailing list at www.us13.campaign-archive.com.