Pennsylvania lawmakers have hopes of making the Keystone State the eighth state this year to pass legislation mandating that public schools and universities provide athletic opportunities based on male, female, and co-ed designations, consistent with Article 7 of the Declaration on Women’s Sex-Based Rights. The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act (HB 972) would also grant “cause of action” (a claim sufficient to demand judicial attention) to female athletes who are deprived of athletic opportunity or who suffer direct or indirect harm as a result of violations of the act. It would provide the same remedy to any student who is subject to retaliation or other adverse action as a result of reporting a violation.
WHRC USA has endorsed this legislation, submitting written testimony to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Education Committee in advance of the bill’s first public hearing, to take place on August 4th.
Governor Tom Wolf has stated that he will veto the bill, which news reports have falsely presented as a ban on “transgender” athletes. In fact, HB 972 does not contain any language related to “gender identity.” It merely requires that male athletes participate elsewhere than on the girls’ or women’s team.
Prime sponsor Barb Gleim of Cumberland County says she introduced the bill in response to President Biden’s attacks on Title IX, adding:
There is a rich history of women fighting and lobbying to be recognized as legitimate in sport and competition, that this generation and future generations of girls are at risk of losing. Coming from a single-parent household, as well, I don’t know what I would have accomplished were it not for the support of my sports families. One girl displaced is too many.
Pennsylvania residents can help support woman and girl athletes by urging their state legislators to vote “Yea” on HB 972.
*Please note that the Women’s Human Rights Campaign USA (WHRC-USA) is now officially known as Women’s Declaration International USA (WDI-USA)
