Gleim: House Democrats Choose Political Games Over Protecting Female Athletes

10/31/2025

HARRISBURG - House Democrats continue to stall efforts to protect female athletes across the Commonwealth through the use of political gamesmanship, according to state Rep. Barb Gleim (R-Cumberland).

“A majority of registered Democrats across the state and more than 90% of Pennsylvanians oppose allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports,” Gleim said. “So why do House members across the aisle continue to defy so many of their constituents and reject attempts to consider corresponding legislation, which in one case has bipartisan support?” 

Gleim is referring to Senate Bill 9, known as the Save Women’s Sports Act, as the legislation which drew Democrat support when passed to the House but has yet to be taken up in committee. Senate Bill 9 was first assigned to the House Education Committee, and then after 15 consecutive legislative days, was discharged by Gleim, only to have it re-referred to the House Health Committee. Again, after sitting for 15 consecutive legislative days, Senate Bill 9 was re-referred on Wednesday to the House Judiciary Committee.  

“House Democrats control the voting calendar and continue to play ‘hide and seek’ with the Save Women’s Sports Act by moving it from committee to committee so it can’t be brought to the floor for consideration,” said Gleim. “Doing so means endorsing biological men being allowed to compete against young girls on the playing field and change beside them in locker rooms. Their justification for doing so is mystifying, cruel and harmful.”     
 
Gleim, who authored the “Protect Women’s Sports Act” (House Bill 158), isn’t giving up the fight. She entered a discharge resolution for the companion to Sente Bill 9, House Bill 158, on Wednesday, which has languished in the House Education Committee for over 175 days.

Gleim states, “The passage of this bill is long overdue. It’s time to join other states in standing up for women’s rights, for our women and girls in competitive sports, and for common sense.”