The following statement can be attributed to Jeremy Samek, Senior Counsel, Independence Law Center, in response to Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) change of policy regarding girls’ sports.
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“The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) took an important step in restoring safety, fairness, and opportunity in girls’ sports by aligning its policy with the recent executive order from President Trump. Words matter, and by replacing ‘gender’ with ‘sex,’ this update clarifies that girls will not have to compete against biological males in their own sports.
The executive order, referenced in the PIAA changes, defines sex as an “individual’s immutable biological classification as either male or female” and explicitly states that “sex is not a synonym for and does not include the concept of ‘gender identity’.”
Schools in Pennsylvania must still ensure their district policy reflects this change. These policies not only safeguard fairness and safety of the female students but also protect schools from potential loss of federal funding. There also remains an urgent need for Pennsylvania to pass Senate Bill 9, ensuring a clear and enforceable standard that protects girls’ sports across all schools.
We applaud the numerous school districts that have already enacted policies protecting female athletes. We remain committed to a future where girls can compete in sports without dangerous, unfair disadvantages and where their achievements are fully recognized.”
About Independence Law Center
The Independence Law Center is a public-interest civil rights law firm affiliated with the Pennsylvania Family Institute, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization funded through tax-deductible contributions that works to preserve religious liberty, promote marriage and the family, protect human life, and improve education and policy for our clients.
