Reply to our Coalition Letter

Some Dems choose to die on the trans hill

PA Sex-Realists Communicating with our State House of Representatives

Source: somewheres on teh internets

One PA representative has replied to our Coalition letter at this writing.

She is Rep Lindsay Powell, D-21. Here is her reply to Coalition leader Holly Magalengo on July 30, 2026:

Dear Holly,

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts regarding House Bill 158 and legislation concerning participation in school athletics. I appreciate you reaching out to me and understand that this is an issue about which many Pennsylvanians hold deeply held and sincere beliefs.

While I respect your perspective and recognize that many people view this legislation as an effort to promote fairness in women’s sports, I must respectfully disagree with the approach taken in House Bill 158. I believe we can both value fairness in athletics and treat every young person with dignity and respect, even if we reach different conclusions about how best to accomplish those goals.

I am honored to serve such a vibrant and diverse district that is home to many LGBTQ+ residents. As such, I believe transgender Pennsylvanians deserve the same opportunity as everyone else to participate in their communities without being singled out by state law. In my view, House Bill 158 would unnecessarily target transgender students and create additional barriers for a small group of young people who already face significant challenges.

This legislation would require school athletic teams designated for girls and women to exclude transgender athletes from participating consistent with their gender identity. I do not believe this is the right approach. Questions surrounding athletic participation involve important considerations of fairness, safety, and inclusion, and I believe those issues are better addressed through thoughtful policies developed by athletic governing bodies and schools rather than broad statutory mandates.

House Bill 158 is currently before the House Health Committee. Although I am not a member of that committee, should this or similar legislation come before the full House, it will not receive my support.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your views with me. Although we may disagree on this issue, I value hearing from constituents with differing perspectives. Please do not hesitate to contact my office in the future regarding this or any other matter before the General Assembly.

Sincerely,

Lindsay Powell
District 21
Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Bzzt. Wrong. But thanks for playing.

Here is Holly’s reply, reproduced here with her permission:

Hi Representative Powell,

Thank you for taking the time to respond. Honestly, this is a categorical issue. Would you think it is fair to have a 2nd grade boy race against a 9th grade boy? Probably not. This structure ensures fairness in athletics. When males participate in female athletics, girls and women lose.

The good news is that there is room for everyone. A male can identify as a woman. They can dress as a woman. But, they must not invade our sports or single-sex spaces. The recent SCOTUS decision protects a state’s decision to ban males from female sports. This does not mean they are banned from playing sports. It just means they must participate on the team that correctly aligns with their sex. There is room for everyone and they are not being banned from participating. Gender Identity is nothing more than a feeling. There is no way for a person to change their sex. Why should a woman have to accept a male in her race or game? Why should they have to set aside their daily hardwork and dedication and accept a loss in the name of kindness to a person whose identity is based on a feeling?

You worked hard to become a Pennsylvania State Representative. You needed dedication, long hours, countless meetings, campaigning and continuous education to become a House Representative. Now, how would you feel if a man could replace you “just because he feels like it”? You would probably feel it isn’t fair. Likely you may reach out for help to rectify the situation. This is why I am reaching out to you and your colleagues.

There is room for everyone to exist and be whoever they want to be in this beautiful democracy. However, one’s feelings should not be enough to take away another individual’s rights to fair athletics and safe single-sex spaces.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your perspectives. I welcome conversation and thoughtful debate.
If you would like to further discuss, I would welcome that. As a woman, please question how a woman who has been assaulted or raped by a man feels when she is told that he can be in her locker room or bathroom because he “feels like it”. Consider some of these perspectives when bills to protect girls and women come before you.
My request for your help and the help of the entire state House does not come from unkindness. It comes from a place that welcomes all and provides fairness to all. Our laws should not allow men to take away others’ rights just because they “feel” something.

All the best,

Holly Magalengo

Here is Coalition member Angie Cassel’s reply, again reproduced here with her permission:

Thank you for your response. While I appreciate that you took the time to reply, I am disappointed by your position on House Bill 158.

You stated that this bill “targets transgender students.” I disagree. House Bill 158 does not prevent anyone from participating in sports. It simply preserves female athletic categories based on biological sex, which is the very reason those categories were created in the first place.

You also wrote that fairness should be left to athletic governing bodies rather than state law. However, governing bodies have repeatedly changed their policies, often placing the rights of female athletes behind political pressure. When the rights of women and girls are at stake, it is entirely appropriate for the legislature to establish clear protections through law.

Pennsylvania has spent decades expanding opportunities for girls and women in athletics. Those opportunities exist because we recognize the physical differences between the sexes. Ignoring those differences in the name of inclusion undermines the very fairness that women’s sports were designed to provide.

You mention treating every student with dignity and respect. I agree completely. Every student deserves respect, compassion, and equal treatment under the law. But respecting one group should not require taking away opportunities, scholarships, records, roster spots, or competitive fairness from another.

I hope you will reconsider your position and listen to the many female athletes, parents, coaches, and constituents who believe House Bill 158 is about protecting women’s sports—not discriminating against anyone.

Thank you again for your response and for your service to the Commonwealth.

We have so many courageous, articulate women fighting for our right to single-sex athletics! Woo hoo!

At this writing, no additional PA state representatives have replied as far as PA4SBR knows.

If any Dear Readers have received responses from your PA reps, please let PA4SBR know via Substack. We would like to post them, even if they are form letters or autogenerated. As always, you can remain anonymous/pseudonymous.

In the meantime, Holly has made two videos that Dear Readers can share on your social media:

Re-Referral montage video

PA committee accountability

And here’s a lagniappe: