Freedom Caucus Initiative Passes PA Senate in Bipartisan Fashion

The Save Women's Sports Act, Senate Bill 9, Would Protect Girls in Sports from Biological Men

Senate Bill 9, the “Save Women’s Sports Act,” has passed the Pennsylvania Senate 32-18, with all Republicans and five Democrats voting “yes.” This initiative, first proposed as HB 972 in 2021 as the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” by Freedom Caucus member, Barb Gleim (Cumberland) would protect the Commonwealth’s girls from competing against biological men.

Senate sponsor and PAFC member, Dawn Keefer, has been in the fight to protect Pennsylvania girls from the start. “It was refreshing to see both parties come together to support this commonsense measure to protect our state’s female athletes,” she said. “I hope to see the same bipartisan spirit in the House and finally get this bill across the finish line for our girls.”

Recent polling data suggests that as many as 8/10 Americans believe that girls sports should be reserved for biological girls. A January New York Times/Ipsos poll reported that 79% of Americans surveyed believe that men “should not” compete in girls’ leagues or teams.

The bill’s original author, PAFC stalwart, Barb Gleim (Cumberland), continues the tenacious fight to save girls. “Women’s rights advocates fought so hard decades ago for equal participation under the law – now, shockingly, we’ve regressed, and girls everywhere are threatened by male counterparts invading their sports teams.” She added, “House Democrats and our Governor should either run this bill for the sake of our female athletes or have the courage to look them in the eye and tell them they don’t care about their safety and wellbeing.”