“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves…”
Proverbs 31:8
Pennsylvania women and girls deserve fairness, safety, and equal opportunity in athletics. Yet once again, legislation designed to protect women’s sports is being shuffled between committees rather than receiving a vote by the full House of Representatives.
On Monday, the House Health Committee voted 14–12 along party lines to reassign the following bills back to the Judiciary Committee:
- HB158 Protect Women’s Sports Act (Rep. Barbara Gleim, R-District 199)
- HB1849 Dad’s Defending Daughters (Rep. Clint Owlett, R-District 68)
- SB9 Save Women’s Sports Act (Sen. Judy Ward, R-District 30)
While details vary, all three measures share a common goal: ensuring fairness in women’s and girls’ athletics by designating sports based on biological sex in publicly funded school and collegiate competition.
Notably, SB9 has already passed the Pennsylvania Senate, yet House committees continue to reassign it rather than allow it to advance to the House floor for consideration. Procedural delays and political games should not come at the expense of fairness for Pennsylvania women and girls.
It was only a few years ago when a male swimmer known as Lia Thomas competed on the University of Pennsylvania women’s swimming and diving team. The result was national controversy over fairness in competition and its impact on female athletes, including concerns from teammates about shared locker rooms. This case remains a widely cited example of what is at stake when sex-based distinctions in sports are removed.
Regardless of where one stands on this issue, Concerned Women for America of Pennsylvania believes Pennsylvanians deserve a transparent process that brings this matter forward for a direct vote.
TAKE ACTION
Pennsylvania women and girls deserve a fair playing field. These bills have spent enough time moving between committees. It is time for lawmakers to allow a vote.
Use CWA’s Action Center to contact members of the House Judiciary Committee and respectfully urge them to move HB158, HB1849, and SB9 forward without delay.
Ask committee members to:
- Advance these bills to the House floor for consideration.
- Allow elected representatives to cast a clear vote on this important issue.
- Ensure a transparent legislative process that gives Pennsylvanians a voice through their elected representatives.
Take action here:
Or click on this link: https://cwfa.quorum.us/campaign/164740/
Fairness in women’s sports deserves a vote – not endless procedural delays.
