A group of Republican female senators, on Feb. 6, introduced Senate Bill 9, intending to limit women’s sports participation to biological females and uphold Title IX protections.
Bills Intention
The bill introduces legislation to ensure that athletic teams designated for women are exclusively for biological females. Its goal is to uphold the intent of Title IX by maintaining separate, sex-specific teams, thereby protecting women’s athletic opportunities.
Senators Response
Senator Judy Ward emphasized the importance of defending the protections outlined in Title IX, stating, “We must stand up and defend the protections clearly outlined in Title IX and the rights that women fought so hard for.”
Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill highlighted concerns about fairness in women’s sports, noting, “The integrity of women’s sports is under attack, and without action, female athletes will pay the price.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward underscored the significance of the legislation, stating, “As women athletes across our Commonwealth have broken glass ceilings, their efforts to take girls sports to the next level will not be derailed by men competing as women in sports.”
What’s Next
The bill has been referred to the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee for consideration. It would move to the House of Representatives for further deliberation if passed.
