PA Senate Passes SB 9: Lancaster County's Freshman Senator Among Five Democrats Who Voted Yes

On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania State Senate passed Senate Bill 9 — known as the “Save Women’s Sports Act” — by a 32-18 vote. The bill, introduced by Sen. Judy Ward (R-Blair/Fulton/Huntingdon/Juniata/Mifflin), mandates that athletic teams in public schools and higher education institutions be designated as male, female, or coeducational based on biological sex. The legislation specifically bars individuals identified as male at birth from competing on teams designated for women.

SB 9, which allows for legal action by students who believe their participation or safety has been harmed by a violation of the rule, is being positioned by its supporters as a measure to protect fairness in women’s sports. Ward stated, “We must protect the opportunities for our female athletes that sports provides. How many more women have to lose at the hands of a man before we act?”

However, critics — including members of the Senate Democratic caucus — decried the bill as politically motivated and harmful to transgender youth. Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) criticized the bill as “a political issue… being done for political reasons,” and noted that the legislation is unlikely to gain traction in the Democrat-controlled state House.

Several high-profile athletes and organizations have opposed similar legislation across the country, pointing to both the small number of transgender athletes involved in collegiate sports — fewer than 10 out of over 500,000 NCAA student-athletes, according to NCAA President Charlie Baker — and growing data on the harmful impacts such bills have on trans youth.

In an impassioned speech on the Senate floor, Sen. Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) shared personal experiences of violent threats she received after opposing previous anti-trans legislation. “They taught me that you should never stand on the side of the bully… I will always be on the side of the kid who just wants to play ball with their friends,” Williams said.

Despite the bill’s passage largely along party lines, five Democrats crossed the aisle to vote in favor of SB 9, including freshman Senator James Malone of Lancaster County. His vote is drawing attention back home, where LGBTQ advocates and progressive organizers had raised concerns about his lack of clear stances during the 2024 campaign.

The Black Voter Outreach Network of PA and other grassroots organizations in Lancaster have expressed disappointment and concern over Malone’s alignment with the Republican majority on a bill many view as part of a national strategy to restrict the rights of transgender people. For a candidate endorsed by local Democratic leaders and elected as part of a supposed progressive wave, the vote is being seen by some as a troubling signal.

SB 9 now moves to the Pennsylvania House, where Democrats hold a majority. Its future is uncertain. But we do believe the bill is dead on arrival, which leaves us scratching our heads at the 5 Democratic Senators who voted yes..

Politics PA and Steve Ulrich broke this story.
Source: Steve Ulrich, PoliticsPA. Full article: https://www.politicspa.com/pa-senate-passes-save-womens-sports-act/141405/