Apr. 12, 2022
HARRISBURG – Today, the Pennsylvania state House approved legislation to protect women’s sports in the Commonwealth, announced Rep. Barb Gleim (R-Cumberland), prime sponsor of the bill and a former athlete.
Under the bill, an athletic team or sport designated for females, women or girls may not be open to biological males. In addition, a student deprived of an athletic opportunity or who suffers direct or indirect harm as a result of a violation of this act by a college or public school would be able to file a lawsuit against the college or high school.
More than a dozen states have passed similar legislation in light of women’s sports being challenged by the allowance of biological males to compete on their teams.
“The inherent physical advantages a male has when it comes to competitive sports is not something a change in hormone levels can rectify,” said Gleim. “Their bodies are bigger, stronger, faster and are built for greater endurance. Those are simply the facts.
“Allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports reverses nearly 50 years of hard-earned advances for women and destroys fair competition and women’s athletic opportunities,” stated Gleim.
“This issue is about supporting biological women and their right to play sports on a competitive playing field. Biological men can continue to play on both coed and male sports teams,” concluded Gleim.
House Bill 972 now goes to the Senate for approval.
Representative Barbara Gleim
199th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives