Pa. Senate passes bill against transgender girls in girls’ sports

HARRISBURG — Legislation prohibiting eligibility of transgender women to play women’s sports has no chance of becoming law in Pennsylvania as long as Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf is in office.

That didn’t stop the Senate last Tuesday from passing the controversial legislation dubbed “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” on a 30-20 near party-line vote with all but one Democrat opposing the bill. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. Meanwhile, a similar House-passed bill awaits action in the Senate.

The measure moved to the spotlight following University of Pennsylvania transgender swimmer Lia Thomas winning the NCAA Division I individual national title in March. It has become an issue across the country, with 18 states adopting restrictions on transgender sports participation.

It also is one that draws a divide between Pennsylvania’s Republican gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano and Democratic nominee Josh Shapiro.

Mr. Mastriano argued on the Senate floor that “it’s about removing male domination of female sports.”

Mr. Shapiro considers it to be cruel and discriminates against youth who want to play sports with their peers. Mr. Shapiro believes the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association should determine the rules, not the Legislature.

“Transgender individuals should know that they belong, that they are valued, and that their participation in activities is welcomed,” Wolf spokeswoman Beth Rementer said.

The Senate vote followed a news conference hosted by the conservative-leaning Pennsylvania Family Institute, where the bill’s advocates and lawmakers made a case that allowing trans females in women’s sports begins to erode the progress achieved by Title IX.

That 50-year-old federal law was designed to level the playing field for women and achieve gender equality in athletics and academics in schools and colleges receiving federal funds.

“This legislation would not deny anyone the ability to compete in sports,” said Sen. Judy Ward, R-Blair County, who along with Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, R-York County, sponsored the Senate bill. “Rather it makes sure that if there is a team that is only for girls, those girls are allowed to keep it that way.”