Back in April, five Pennsylvania state lawmakers announced they’d sponsor anti-trans legislation targeting gender-diverse teen and child student athletes.
Pennsylvania House Bill 972 has been misleadingly dubbed “Fairness in Women’s Sports” legislation by supporters. Such bills are part of a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation right-wing strategists are distributing to state lawmakers who are willing to advance their agenda over protecting vulnerable constituents.
As a result of this coordinated effort, 2021 has been a record year for anti-trans legislation. As of April 22, 144 anti-trans bills have been filed in state legislatures across the United States.
This morning, the Education Committee of the Pennsylvania House held a hearing on this harmful legislation. Prior to the hearing, Women’s Law Project sent a letter strongly urging members of the Pennsylvania House Education Committee to oppose House Bill 972.
WLP litigation includes the representation of women athletes who have been denied athletic opportunities at their schools in violation of Title IX, the Equal Rights Amendment of the Pennsylvania Constitution, and the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
In short, House Bill 972 is harmful, based on stereotypes, and a solution in search of a problem. It also violates both state and federal laws.
Read our letter here.
Two percent of high school students identify as transgender. LGBTQ youth are more likely to be bullied on school property than cisgender straight kids. We need to protect these kids, not exploit them as a political wedge issue.
Further, this bill does nothing to fix the gender disparities in Pennsylvania school athletics due to discrimination, including the disparities right in the sponsors’ backyards. More on that topic soon.
The primary sponsors of HB 972 are Rep. Barb Gleim (R-Cumberland), Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia), Rep. Dawn Keefer (R-York), Rep. Valarie Gaydos (R-Allegheny), and Rep. Stephanie Borowicz (R- Clinton/Centre).
We urge you to contact members of the Education Committee to express your opposition.
Women’s Law Project is a public interest law center in Pennsylvania devoted to advancing and defending the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people in Pennsylvania and beyond. As a non-profit organization, we can not do this work without you. Please consider supporting our work.
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