Doug Mastriano, a state senator for Pennsylvania’s 33rd District, announced that the state Senate passed legislation restricting female sports teams to biological females to ensure fair competition. The statement was made on the social media platform X.
“SB9, Save Women’s Sports Act passed,” said Mastriano. “PA scholastic sports teams designed for girls and women will be reserved for biological females. Legislation approved by the Senate, (32 to 18) Ensuring female athletes are not denied scholarships and more due to unfair competition from biological males.”
In May 2025, the Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Bill 9, known as the Save Women’s Sports Act. This bill mandates that school sports teams designated for females be limited to students assigned female at birth. According to the Associated Press, the bill was sponsored by Republican Senator Judy Ward and received support from all Senate Republicans and five Democrats. Proponents argue it safeguards fairness in competition and Title IX rights, while critics, including Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, describe it as discriminatory. The bill is unlikely to progress in the Democrat-controlled House.
As of 2023, only one transgender student was reported participating in school sports in Pennsylvania, based on data from the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. The Associated Press reports that this low number has led critics of SB9 to contend that the legislation addresses a largely non-existent issue and may target a very small group for political purposes. However, supporters continue to stress concerns over future eligibility and scholarship access.
By 2024, at least 23 U.S. states have enacted laws restricting transgender students from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity. ESPN reports that these laws vary in scope and enforcement; some states apply restrictions only to high school sports while others include collegiate athletics. This trend mirrors broader national debates over gender identity, athletic fairness, and civil rights protections.
Mastriano is a Republican State Senator representing Pennsylvania’s 33rd District since 2019. His official biography on the Pennsylvania State Senate website notes he is a retired U.S. Army Colonel with three decades of military service, including assignments in West Germany and Iraq. He is recognized for his conservative positions on education, abortion, and religious liberty and was the Republican nominee in the 2022 Pennsylvania gubernatorial race, which he lost to Democrat Josh Shapiro.
