Transgender sports ban passes Pennsylvania House News
Transgender sports ban passes Pennsylvania House

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Tuesday passed a bill that would prohibit transgender girls and women from competing on sports teams consistent with their gender identity.

House Bill 972, also known as the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, would require all public school sports teams, and private school teams that compete against public school teams, to designate themselves as male, female, or mixed. Athletic teams designated for females would not be open to students of the male sex. The bill defines sex as “the biological distinction between male and female based on reproductive biology and genetic make-up.”

The bill provides that any student who suffers any direct or indirect harm because of a violation of this law may bring a cause of action against the school for injunctive relief and damages, including for emotional, psychological and physical harm suffered, as well as attorney fees and costs. Furthermore, a student who is subject to retaliation by a school for reporting a violation of this law has a similar cause of action against the school.

The bill passed the house by a vote of 115 to 84, largely along party lines. The bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. Barb Gleim, said “This issue is about supporting biological women and their right to play sports on a competitive playing field.” She further stated that transgender women could continue to play sports, only on male or mixed teams.

Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta noted that one in five transgender children attempted suicide in the last year, and said of House Republicans who voted in favor of the bill, “For a party that always brags about being so pro-life, they are awfully eager to support a bill that will likely lead to more death for trans kids.” Democratic Governor Tom Wolf stated in a tweet after the passage of the bill that he would veto it, writing, “It won’t get past my desk.”

The bill now heads to the Pennsylvania Senate.