HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHP) \u2014 The state Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would ban transgender girls and women from playing on female sports teams.<\/p>\n
The bill would require Pennsylvania public schools and colleges to label sports teams as either \u201cmale,\u201d \u201cfemale\u201d or \u201ccoed,\u201d stipulating that only \u201cbiological females\u201d would be able to join teams for girls or women.<\/p>\n
Senate Bill 1293<\/a>, sponsored by Sen. Judy Ward and co-sponsored by eight other Republican senators, would also allow students to take legal action if they believe they\u2019ve been \u201charmed\u201d by violations of the rule.<\/p>\n Republican supporters say the bill would promote fairness in women\u2019s sports by ensuring \u201cfemale athletes have a level playing field\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile House Democrats continue to play partisan politics instead of protecting the women of this commonwealth, Senate Republicans stand ready to provide every female athlete the opportunity they have fought so hard to achieve,” Ward said in a statement.<\/p>\n The American Civil Liberty Union of Pennsylvania<\/a>, on the other hand, said trans girls deserve the same chance as other kids to play on their community\u2019s sports teams and to feel included.<\/p>\n The nonprofit said if passed, the bill would have \u201cdetrimental and potentially devastating\u201d effects on the health of young trans Pennsylvanians.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir inclusion strengthens our athletic programs and benefits every girl who steps onto a field or into a gym,\u201d said ACLU-PA Senior Organizer Naiymah Sanchez. \u201cThe conversation we should be having is about improving the health and well-being of our youth, and providing more funding for girls’ sports to ensure all student athletes have what they need to thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n The ACLU of Pennsylvania opposes the bill<\/a>, which is said is a reintroduction of an identical bill that then Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed back in 2022<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cRather than addressing real challenges facing student athletes, such as a lack of equal resources for girls\u2019 sports, SB 1293 instead continues this cruel campaign targeting vulnerable youth under the banner of protecting women\u2019s sports,\u201d the nonprofit writes on its website.<\/p>\n The bill passed the state Senate Wednesday 30-17 and now heads to the Democrat-controlled state House, where it is unlikely to pass.<\/p>\n