HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Senate has approved legislation to preserve opportunities for female athletes at public schools and colleges by requiring scholastic sports teams to be designated based on biological sex. That’s according to Republican State Senators Judy Ward and Kristin Phillips-Hill who co-sponsored the measure.
Senate Bill 1293 would require public schools and colleges to label sports teams as male, female or coed. The legislation states only biological females can join teams designated for women. The bill would also allow students to take legal action if they are harmed by violations of this rule.
According to Senator Ward, “The Save Women’s Sports Act is about ensuring that female athletes have a level playing field and that the progress made throughout the past decades in women’s athletics is protected.”
Senator Phillips-Hill added, “The Senate has acted in a bipartisan way to ensure that in Pennsylvania, equal opportunity for female athletes is not temporary. It is guaranteed.” The measure now moves to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for consideration.