Beth Ann Rosica’s writings are a blend of news, opinion, and analysis.
A politically and ideologically diverse coalition is calling out the Pennsylvania House today for delaying action on bills to protect girls and women.
The Pennsylvania Women’s Sports Bipartisan Coalition, an alliance of parents, athletes, attorneys, faith leaders, child and student rights advocates, and organizations sent a formal letter to members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives urging an up-or-down floor vote on four bills concerning girls’ sports and women’s spaces.
Titled, “1057 Days Without a Vote,” the letter is addressed to all state House members.
“We, the undersigned, urge you to allow legislation protecting fairness and equal opportunity in women’s sports to receive a vote on the floor of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives,” the letter opens.
“At this writing, July 29, 2026, legislation addressing this issue has been available for consideration by the Pennsylvania House for 1,057 days — two years, ten months, and twenty-three days — without receiving a vote by the full House.”
The letter references consistent polling that almost 80 percent of Americans support keeping boys out of girls’ sports and spaces.
“This issue transcends partisan politics. It concerns fairness, safety, equal opportunity, and the preservation of the protections and opportunities that generations of women and girls have worked to secure.”
The coalition closes with a plea to legislators to advance the bills out of committee to allow a full House vote.
“We therefore respectfully request that the Pennsylvania House leadership allow Senate Bill 9, Senate Bill 1293, and related legislation to receive a vote on the House floor so that the elected representatives of the Commonwealth may publicly deliberate and decide this important matter. Pennsylvania’s female athletes, their families, and all Pennsylvanians deserve nothing less.”
The letter identifies four bills that address the designation of athletic teams as male, female, or coed and related protections for girls’ and women’s sports, including HB 158, HB 1849, SB 9, and SB 1293. The coalition created a seventeen-page document archiving the history of the bills and their votes.
Broad + Liberty previously compiled a legislative flowchart depicting the lack of legislative movement.
Title IX celebrated its fifty-fourth anniversary in June, yet according to the coalition, Pennsylvania girls and women are still waiting for the House to act.
Holly Magalengo, a Bucks County mother whose daughter was forced to compete against males and share a bathroom during her high school cross country and track seasons, is one of the coalition organizers.
“This coalition proves that protecting girls’ sports and women’s spaces is not a left-versus-right issue,” said Magalengo. “People who disagree on many other issues agree that the House should stop moving these bills from committee to committee and allow every representative to cast a recorded vote.”
Alexis Pasternak, a Delaware County mother and coalition co-organizer said, “Women and girls should not be treated as an afterthought in the legislative process. A vote is the most basic form of transparency and accountability.”
Coalition signatories reflect a broad range of political, religious, and advocacy perspectives. Participating organizations include PA 4 Sex-Based Rights, Concerned Women for America of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Family Council, Women Are Real, ROAR NYC, California Teachers Supporting Gender Non-Conforming Youth, Protect Kids Colorado, WoLF (Women’s Liberation Front), LGB Alliance USA, DIAG (Democrats for Informed Approach to Gender), Athletes 4 Action, ICONS (Independent Council on Women’s Sports), Maine Girl Dads, WDI (Women’s Declaration International USA), Protect Her Game Foundation, Paradox Institute, along with individual parents, athletes, attorneys, and advocates from Pennsylvania and across North America.
Beth Ann Rosica resides in West Chester, has a Ph.D. in Education, and has dedicated her career to advocating on behalf of at-risk children and families. She covers education issues for Broad + Liberty. Contact her at [email protected].