Senator Wayne Fontana — SB 9 – Take Action for LGBTQ Civil Rights in PA!

Sen. Wayne Fontana
Senate District 42
Democrat, serving Allegheny County (Part)
Member of the Senate Since: 2005

Pittsburgh Office: 412-344-2551
Harrisburg Office: 717-787-5300

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Allegheny County
- ONLY: Avalon Borough, Bellevue Borough, Ben Avon Borough, Carnegie Borough, Crafton Borough, Dormont Borough, Emsworth Borough, Green Tree Borough, Ingram Borough, Kennedy Township, Mckees Rocks Borough, Millvale Borough, Mount Lebanon Township, Neville Township, Pittsburgh City (Part), Reserve Township, Scott Township, Stowe Township

Click here to visit the State Senate website to put in your address to confirm if Senator Fontana is your senator.

Senator Wayne Fontana — SB 9

Dear Senator Fontana,

I am writing as your constituent to thank you for your opposition to SB 9 — a bill that would deeply harm Pennsylvania students. This bill attempts to have government regulate sex as a binary without a definition, which would imply enforcement is by any parent or student making an accusation that subjects girls to forced genital checks or blood draws for genetic testing. This should not be the business of our public schools. SB 9 ignores the science that sex is not binary in chromosomes, hormones, or physical characteristics — and is a serious, intentional attack on girls who are transgender.

This bill does nothing to protect female athletes’ access and opportunities to sports in our commonwealth, and instead endangers all women and girls; potentially allowing for any athlete that appears stronger or faster to accusations and traumatic investigations. Sponsors and supporters of this bill have been unable to point to a single instance in which a K-12 transgender athlete is dominating in their sport because of a student being transgender or cisgender.

The lessons kids learn participating in sports help to shape some of their best attributes. They learn the importance of teamwork, and accountability to one another. They learn self-discipline and leadership skills. They experience a sense of belonging with their peers. The positive experiences that participating in sports provides, and the unique lessons that adolescents gain from being able to participate in youth sports are the reasons we should support all children having the opportunity to play.

There are meaningful ways that the General Assembly could support women’s sports: Addressing parity in access, opportunity, and funding would demonstrate a legislative commitment.

These bills have been pushed across our nation in an attempt to dehumanize trans children. If the forces opposing LGBT inclusion can convince others that young people who are trans are somehow different in this minor way — in playing sports at school, then it makes it easier to deny them basic healthcare, education, shelter, or safety from brutal violence. It’s the same playbook used against gay and lesbian people in the past. There is a reason we no longer see bills trying to ban gay people from being gym teachers in public schools. Once someone knows an LGBT person as human and not a talking point, none of these bills make sense.

It’s time to let kids be kids, and let them play. Let’s get to work solving the real, and paramount challenges facing the commonwealth and reject culture wars dividing our communities.