A bill that would ban transgender girls and women from participating in school sports across Pennsylvania is heading to the full state Senate after passing through the Senate Education Committee this week. Backed by Republican lawmakers, the legislation would bar transgender students from joining girls’ athletic teams from elementary school through college.
Senate Bill 9, sponsored by Sen. Judy Ward (R-Blair), defines “sex” as strictly male or female, assigned at birth. If enacted, the bill would apply to all K–12 public schools, as well as public colleges and universities in the state. It does not address transgender boys or nonbinary students.
“This is about biology,” Sen. Dawn Keefer (R-York) said during the committee hearing. “I’ve been frustrated watching our young women struggle over the past several years to compete on a fair platform and have opportunities and victories swiped from them.” Keefer did not provide examples.
Supporters of the bill say it aims to preserve fairness in women’s sports, though they did not cite specific examples of harm or competitive imbalance caused by transgender athletes in Pennsylvania schools. Opponents, however, argue the legislation is unnecessary, discriminatory, and potentially harmful to a small and vulnerable group of students.
Advocates argue the bill targets a small population of students and creates unnecessary barriers for transgender youth, who already face significant mental health risks
Studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show transgender youth face significantly higher rates of bullying, housing insecurity, and suicide compared to their cisgender peers. Advocates for LGBTQ+ rights argue that sports can serve as a vital source of support, identity, and inclusion—something they say bills like this deny.
This legislation mirrors similar efforts nationwide. More than 20 states have passed laws or executive orders limiting the ability of trans students to participate in school sports. In January, Congressional Republicans passed a federal-level version of the ban in the U.S. House, though it has stalled in the Senate.
Pennsylvania Democrats pushed back on the bill, questioning both its necessity and its intent.
“This bill assumes that female bodies are inherently less than male bodies,” said Sen. Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny County), who voted against the measure. The bill implies “that girls are at an automatic disadvantage and can’t possibly compete against boys even though girls do it every day.”
Other lawmakers, like Sen. Tim Kearney (D-Delaware County), raised concerns that the bill conflicts with existing rules from national athletic associations. The NCAA and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference already have eligibility guidelines for transgender athletes, including requirements around hormone therapy and transition timelines.
Kearney specifically referenced Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer who won a national title in 2022, noting her case sparked significant debate—but was ultimately handled through athletic governing bodies, not legislation.
The bill’s future remains uncertain. While Republicans hold a majority in the Senate and appear poised to bring it to a floor vote, Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro has indicated he would veto any legislation that restricts the rights of transgender students.
House Democrats also appear unlikely to support a companion bill introduced earlier this year, which remains in committee. Elizabeth Rementer, spokesperson for House Majority Leader Matt Bradford, called the legislation “political theater that bullies children for political points.”
Local LGBTQ+ organizations and youth advocates have mobilized quickly in response to the bill’s advancement. The Pennsylvania Youth Congress has launched a letter-writing campaign urging constituents to contact their senators. Their materials emphasize that sex and gender are not binary and that inclusion in school sports should be a right, not a debate.
Though the bill may pass the Republican-controlled Senate, its broader impact may ultimately be symbolic—one more flashpoint in an ongoing national conflict over trans rights. For now, advocates say the focus remains on protecting trans youth and affirming their right to participate in school life—on the field and beyond. Senate-Bill-9-2025-trans-sports-ban
