A group of Pennsylvania legislators who are also fathers gathered at the Ryan Office Atrium in the Pennsylvania Capitol Building on October 29th to hold a rally advocating for legislation that would prohibit biological males from participating in girls’ sports teams in public K-12 schools and universities.
The event, called “Dad Legislators Call for Action to Defend Daughters in Sports,” focused on promoting House Bill 1849 introduced by Pennsylvania Republican Representatives Clint Owlett, Eric Davanzo, Joe D‘Orsie, Jonathan Fritz, and Joe Hamm on September 5th.
The bill, known as the “Protecting Daughters Act,” requires all public K-12 schools and state universities to designate sports programs as male, female, or coed, and mandates that female teams only allow athletes who were born female to compete. The bill would take immediate effect upon passage.
Legislators urged fathers across the state to support the bill, viewing it as a moral obligation to ensure fair competition and safe spaces for female athletes.
Former Hempfield School District student athlete Lily Williams shared an experience from the spring of 2021 during the rally. The incident led to adjustments in local school policies.
At the time, Williams was a senior captain of the girls’ track team. She recalled how, prior to a competition, team members found a male cross-country athlete sitting on a bench in the girls’ locker room. The male student continued to appear in the girls’ locker room, causing confusion, frustration, and anger among the team. Some teammates opted to change in portable restrooms on the field.
Williams reported the situation to the coach but was told it couldn’t be addressed and wasn’t up for discussion. During a team meeting, athletes were told to “accept the situation.” Williams then brought the issue to the attention of the principal.
With the support of her father, Williams filed a complaint with the school board. With assistance from the Pennsylvania Family Institute, Williams, her mother, and teammates spoke multiple times at board meetings, and community members began to participate.
In 2022, the school board passed a policy prohibiting males from entering girls’ sports teams and facilities. Williams stated that the policy was based on “common sense and science.”
Responding to accusations of “hatred” and “bias” from outsiders, Williams clarified that she held no ill will towards the male student and viewed him as “someone made in the image of God, worthy of respect.” She emphasized that stating facts is not hatred and that defending fair competition for women and ensuring locker room safety is not cruel.
Williams stressed that the issue involves moral, spiritual, and fair competition concerns. She concluded the rally by stating, “Males do not belong in girls’ sports programs, and this view is based on fairness, equality, and justice.”
Paula Scanlan, a former NCAA Division I swimmer from the University of Pennsylvania and a senior research fellow at the American Principles Project, described her experience with teammate Lea Thomas, a transgender athlete standing at 6 feet 4 inches tall. University officials discouraged public discussion, warned of potential professional consequences for speaking out, and offered counseling for those uncomfortable with the situation. Thomas joined the women’s team, used the women’s locker room approximately 18 times a week, achieved significant success, including NCAA championships and being named NCAA Female Athlete of the Year.
Scanlan believed the issue transcended sports and delved into a larger debate on free speech and institutional policies. After observing reports of injuries to female athletes in other events, she chose to openly share her perspective.
She is currently working with legislators on relevant legislation, focusing on campus programs and engaging with the younger generation for public discussion. She emphasized the importance of having these conversations and engaging people early on, citing Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk as an early inspiration. She said, “He’s done a great job in this area. He’s someone I admire, and I know he wants us to continue the discussion.”
Lead sponsor of House Bill 1849, Rep. Clint Owlett, called on fathers to step up. “The primary message to all fathers — your daughters need you,” he said. He praised the ongoing efforts of women but emphasized that fathers must lead the charge in defending the rights to fair competition, safe locker rooms, and opportunities to compete in women’s sports.
“I am one of the main sponsors of this bill. The five of us are pushing this together,” Owlett told The Epoch Times, “Now is the time for fathers to step up, to stand up in the fight to defend our daughters’ rights to fair competition, safe locker room spaces, and the original design of girls’ sports. We are stepping up, fighting for this. We will defend our daughters and call for action in Pennsylvania.”
Rep. Joe D‘Orsie emphasized overwhelming bipartisan support, citing a poll showing that 80% of Pennsylvania voters agree to protect girls from competing alongside biological males or sharing locker room spaces in sports competitions.
D‘Orsie pointed out that this issue pertains to individual conscience rather than political stance. As a former Division I university athlete and a father of a young girl, he stated that this is a personal issue for him.
He described a scenario where a girl trains hard to win a scholarship only to lose in competition to a biological male with a physical advantage. “My daughter deserves a better chance,” D‘Orsie said, mentioning athletes like Riley Gaines, Paula Scanlan, and over 66 Pennsylvania girls who lost rankings or medals in competitions.
He called on people from all walks of life, especially fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and brothers, to stand up together to uphold a fair environment for aspiring athletes and sports-loving girls. “Now is the best time to ensure Pennsylvania girls have a fair stage for competition,” he stated.
“We are united in defending girls’ sports, excluding biological males. Males have larger hearts, lungs, muscle mass, and bone density, which is fundamentally unfair and unsafe. This is an issue of fairness and dignity, bipartisan in nature,” Rep. Jonathan Fritz told The Epoch Times.
“Our country needs to get back on track. Some things are core, simple, common-sense matters, and this is one of them,” he added.
Fritz mentioned that he is fortunate to have three children, one of whom is a daughter. “She played basketball, was also a cheerleader. She has graduated now and entered the workforce, and I am very proud of her. Participating in sports has significant meaning for her growth — sports taught her how to share, lead, work hard, interact with teammates and coaches, and resolve conflicts.”
Fritz said, “Sports are a fundamental part of a person’s growth — they help shape character, learn cooperation, and cultivate resilience. That’s why we must strive to protect the space for girls in sports, preventing them from being forced to compete with males.”
He pointed out that 86% of female business leaders in America took part in high school or college sports, which is crucial for skill development. “We must defend this space for women,” he stated.
Chairman of the Athletes for America Coalition, former NFL player Frank Murphy, expressed to The Epoch Times, “The reason I care about this issue so much is because I see it as my mission. My mission is to inspire those fathers — urging them not to sit on the sidelines but to get involved, ensuring our daughters have fair opportunities to win competitions, learn, and grow in sports.”
Murphy said, “I am a man of faith. I see this as an opportunity to not only inspire and attract adults but also inspire the next generation, giving them a chance to do the right thing — because ‘integrity’ is very important to me. Integrity for me means doing the right thing even in darkness, when nobody is watching.”
“When we want to encourage our daughters to step into the locker room and tell them, ‘No, we don’t want you to do this anymore,’ this is the time for us fathers to speak up. We can’t hide behind the scenes anymore, but step in front of the camera, speak out loudly — we will continuously support our daughters. Fathers, don’t sit on the sidelines anymore, stand up, join the game!” Murphy exclaimed.
He mentioned that he has two daughters, one 24 years old and the other just 16 months old. “They are both athletes. My elder daughter loves cheerleading and dancing, and as for the younger one, I don’t know yet what she’ll enjoy in the future, but I look forward to seeing her grow. That’s why I’m speaking up, insisting that males shouldn’t participate in girls’ programs.”
“I hope to inspire more fathers to understand their important role through supporting this bill, utilizing my platform and voice. As the chairman of the Athletes for America Coalition — an organization affiliated with the American Priority Policy Institute — I see this as my responsibility. This is our mission. My obligation is not only to speak for men’s sports but also to speak for women’s sports.”
Thomas J. Shaheen, Policy VP of the Pennsylvania Family Council, supported the bill, telling The Epoch Times, “I am here today because my organization — the Pennsylvania Family Council — supports protecting girls’ sports, especially safeguarding young girls who are forced to compete alongside biological males, sharing locker rooms.”
“The ‘Protecting Daughters Act’ is significant to me because I have daughters who competed in swimming. I cannot imagine them having to share locker rooms with male students, let alone compete against males on the field.”
“I am well aware that in most sports, especially individual ones like swimming, there are significant differences in physical structure and physiological functions between males and females. If you compare performances — even at an international level like the Olympics — you will find that there’s no comparability between men’s and women’s events. Therefore, I believe now is the time to pass a law that requires schools statewide, especially high schools, to establish uniform standards, making it clear that women’s sports should only be for females.”
“My two daughters are grown now, having established families of their own. But I cannot imagine how they would have felt during their teenage years — from elementary and junior high to high school and college — if they had to compete with males. As a father, I have seen the differences between males and females, especially in swimming. I have seen the disparities in results, and I know it’s unfair.”
Shaheen said, “The Title IX Amendment passed in the 1970s — aimed at protecting girls’ sports rights — was excellent legislation and has received broad support over the years. However, currently allowing males who identify as females to participate in girls’ sports is actually undermining and distorting the original purpose of that law.”