Update: PA May Allow Boys to Compete in Girls' Sports

Why we need a federal and state Save Women's Sports Act

The indefatigable EK has an update for us. I’ll quote her here. Thank you, EK!

“The PIAA had a regularly scheduled board meeting on Wednesday [February 19, 2025] and updated their policy to better align with Trump's February 5th [2025] executive order on girls' sports.

‘E. Where a student's sex gender is questioned or uncertain, the decision of the school Principal as to the student's sex gender will be accepted by PIAA. In accordance with the Presidential Executive Order 14201 entitled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports”, dated February 5, 2025, schools are required to consult with their school solicitors relative to compliance with the Order.’

EK continues:

“This is a good change, as the word ‘gender’ has come, in some people’s mind, to mean ‘gender identity’ which is fluid and ambiguous, rather than "sex" which is binary, male and female.However, in the past, the PIAA just let schools interpret Section E’s reference to ‘gender’ however they wanted (to mean sex or gender identity). While the change is helpful, the PIAA may still take the school's assessment of the athlete even when there is no question or uncertainty that the individual is a male, allowing schools that have progressive policies allowing students to compete based on gender identity rather than sex to compete as they see fit.

“Problem still remains:

“This still leaves the girls' competing on March 2nd [2025] and in future competitions open to competing against males. Take for instance this girl, Ashlyn Calabria from Quakertown, who placed 9th at the regional finals, missing out on competing on March 2nd [2025] to [trans-identifying male] Luce Allen. (see below).

“1) The PIAA should immediately inform her, and other females in the other events that missed out because of the two males['] participation, that they are now qualified for the State Championship.

“2) We need the force of a state law like Senate Bill 9 to provide clear language on this issue, otherwise, it will continue to occur.

“I've just learned that the Indoor Track and Field Championships are NOT a PIAA event, thus they're not subject to their rules. Now, I know the head of the PTFCA (PA Track and Field Coaches Association) that runs the event was looking to what the PIAA does on this front, so hopefully they'll follow through… So we may need to lobby another source.”

Because of these distinctions, we need both a federal and state Save Women’s Sports Act that unequivocally defines female and male according to gamete size.

PA SB 9, filed by state Senator Judy Ward, will “preserve the increased athletic opportunities that female students have gained over the past half century in this country.

“Under this legislation, school athletic teams designated for women may not be open to those of the male sex. The legislation defines ‘sex’ as the biological distinction between male and female, based on reproductive biology and genetic make-up.”

The state House has a similar bill, HB 158, filed by state Representative Barbara Gleim. We also have the federal bill S 9 (not the same bill as PA SB 9) to protect women’s sports from trans-identifying males.

Meanwhile, you can contact PTFCA officers and tell them boys do not belong in girls’ sports.

If any readers know anything more about PIAA and/or PTFCA and their intent (or not) to comply with the 2025 EOs, please let us know in the comments.

Thanks again to EK!