In a press conference held at the State Capitol on Monday, supporters from across Pennsylvania, including Senate leaders, impacted female athletes, and advocates from PA Family Council, called for immediate action from the House to pass SB9. As we reported last week, the Pennsylvania Senate passed SB9 with a bipartisan vote that sent a clear message across the Commonwealth that protecting the integrity of women’s sports transcends partisan divides.
State Senator Judy Ward (R-Blair), a prime sponsor of the bill, emphasized its importance, stating, “The passage of this legislation is simply common sense.” During the press conference, she highlighted well-documented biological differences, noting males typically outperform females in athletics due to inherent physiological advantages.
Senator Ward urged the House to “take up this vital legislation without delay.”
Emily Kreps, a legal assistant at PA Family Council and former collegiate swimmer, shared the story of how being a female athlete impacted her own life. Reflecting on her personal journey, Emily said, “Swimming on a team, while only a brief time in my life, had a lasting impact on who I am today.” She stressed the broader implications beyond elite athletics: “Much is said about top athletes losing to male competitors, but countless girls like me risk not even making the team at all because there’s not a spot on the roster.” Her remarks underscored the urgency of preserving fair competition for female athletes across all levels.
Lily Williams, former captain of the Hempfield High School girls’ track and cross-country teams, also delivered a heartfelt testimony at the event. Lily recounted the emotional and psychological distress she and her teammates faced when a male athlete joined their team. “For female athletes, locker rooms are more than just a place to change. It is a place of privacy, security, and intimacy,” Lily explained. “Having a male present compromises those feelings and crosses personal boundaries that all females have a right to.”
“Having a male present compromises those feelings and crosses personal boundaries that all females have a right to.”
Senator Kristen Phillips-Hill reminded everyone what the bill is truly about: “This bill is not about politics… It is about the principles of fairness, and courage, and opportunity, and ensuring that young women all across our Commonwealth can still count on them.”
She affirmed the original mission of Title IX, noting how, “52 years ago, Title IX opened doors for generations of women by guaranteeing that they would no longer be sidelined or shut out. But that progress didn’t happen overnight. It was won by brave women who laced up their cleats, who dove into pools, and who stepped onto fields and courts demanding their rightful place.”
Present during the press conference, Democrat State Representative Peter Schweyer (Allentown), chairman of the House Education Committee, publicly vowed to block SB9 from advancing. As reported by the Daily Caller, Schweyer told a group of middle school girls who were present at the press conference and supporting the bill, “It’s not going to run. I chair Education, and it’s not going anywhere.”
Sen. Judy Ward confronted Schweyer, expressing frustration with his position. Recounting her direct exchange with Schweyer: “I said, ‘Shame on you,’ and he replied, ‘It’s not going to run.’ I said, ‘You should be ashamed of yourself.’” State Representative Barb Gleim (R-Carlisle) – prime sponsor of HB 972 Protect Girls’ Sports Act that was vetoed by Gov. Wolf in 2022 – echoed these sentiments, confirming the challenges in moving the legislation forward in the House.
It is worth noting that every female Republican in the Pennsylvania Senate co-sponsored Senate Bill 9.
“I felt like Schweyer was the dream crusher yesterday to these young ladies,” she told the Daily Caller.
Working to educate and inform Pennsylvania voters on the issue, PA Family Council’s Policy Analyst Alexis Sneller discussed SB9 in an interview with Rich Zeoli on Talk Radio 1210. Sneller again emphasized the bipartisan support the bill enjoys among voters, stating, “This movement has support across the board—Republicans, Democrats, Independents—and so it’s something we need to take to the Governor’s desk.” She called for increased public pressure, noting, “Girls are continuing to lose out on opportunities…while the governor is just playing politics.”
Zeoli underscored Governor Josh Shapiro’s ambiguity regarding the bill, suggesting political calculations might keep it from reaching his desk. “I don’t think he wants to sign it. I don’t think he wants to veto it. I think he just wants to pretend it never happened,” Zeoli remarked. Sneller urged constituents to voice their support loudly, saying, “Your voice is powerful. Take a stand because sooner or later this is going to touch all of us.”
In a statement provided to the press, PA Family Council’s Director of Communications Josue Sierra countered opponents’ false talking points, highlighting tangible impacts already felt in Pennsylvania: ”The problem is real, measurable, and happening right now in Pennsylvania. The UN reports that over 600 female athletes have lost nearly 900 medals to male competitors across 29 sports. Here in Pennsylvania alone, girls have lost placements in dozens of events—track, swimming, fencing, and more—since 2020. On September 1, 2022, Payton McNabb was knocked unconscious and left with lasting injuries after being spiked in the head by a male athlete in a girls’ volleyball match. Opponents have persistently avoided debating this issue on its merits, resorting instead to smear tactics rather than addressing legitimate parental concerns.”
PA Family Council’s Vice President for Policy, Thomas Shaheen, praised the bipartisan Senate vote, stating, “Protecting fairness and opportunity in women’s sports resonates deeply across party lines.” Shaheen directly challenged the House to “step up, do the right thing, and enact this vital legislation.”
The message from PA Family Council and its allies is clear: It’s time for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to follow the Senate’s bipartisan lead. They must act to ensure fairness, safety, and opportunity for female athletes across the Commonwealth. The fight to save women’s sports continues, driven by the tireless advocacy of countless dedicated individuals across the Commonwealth committed to preserving the integrity and fairness of female athletics.
Watch the Save Women’s Sports Press Conference:
