D’Orsie + Scanlan: Dads join the fight to protect girls’ sports

Recently, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) took a major step toward reserving women’s international competition for… women. 

As much as we’d like to say this is a bold move worthy of acclaim, it’s instead a logical decision that would return the Olympic games to the way it was for well over a century. It’s the right thing to do.

This announcement comes in tandem with an October report that found transgenderism (or gender dysphoria) is in a state of significant decline. Quoting from the survey findings in an article for Skeptic, Professor Eric Kauffman summed up the phenomenon, “the share of students identifying as a gender other than male or female — that is, non-binary — peaked in 2023 and has halved two years since.” 

This trend is welcome news for those of us who genuinely care about the mental health and well-being of Gen Z, but also for girls’ sports advocates from across the country. If this is a “fad,” it could be one of the most destructive fads of our lifetime. As much as a small sect of far-left activists want to force the vast majority of Americans into compliance with their anti-science crusade, Americans aren’t buying it. A 2025 New York Times/Ipsos poll found that 79 percent of Americans believe in protecting girls’ sports – that is preventing males from competing on girls’ teams.

More sports stars are joining the ranks of the sane in opposing males dominating girls’ sports. WNBA star, Sophie Cunningham, recently cleared the air on what should be common sense: “Men are just stronger, bigger, athletic. So, if you put them up against females, I’m like, well, yeah, they’re gonna win, duh.” Women’s tennis legends, Margaret Court and Martina Navratilova, have steadfastly contended for the cause of girls’ sports, and even acclaimed novelist, JK Rowling, has had the courage to tell the truth despite wicked recourse from the trans lobby.

This isn’t rocket science, it’s biology. But more importantly, it’s about protecting aspiring girl athletes from harm, from losing placement in their sports, and from sharing locker room space with men.

The issue, which is tirelessly downplayed by opponents, is apparently important enough that the Supreme Court next week will hear arguments in Little v. Hecock and West Virginia v. B.P.J. on the constitutional basis for state laws protecting girls’ sports.

I, Paula Scanlan, was a victim of a male hijacking my sport right here in Pennsylvania. My senior swimming season at UPenn was upended by Lia Thomas, a man who garnered national headlines for suddenly finding success in the girls’ freestyle category. There was a shortage of people who were willing to stand up for my teammates and I then, let alone men who were willing to be outspoken.

Despite widespread support for ensuring fairness in girls’ sports, the apparent decline of transgender students, and groups like the IOC coming to their senses, Democrat-led legislatures and mainstay names in the national Democratic party are digging their heels in on this issue.

In Pennsylvania, House Democrats have dodged three separate bills (SB 9, HB 158, and HB 1849) that would return PIAA sports to a level playing field. Not only that, but Democrat Governor Josh Shapiro, who has meticulously built a social media image of one who is willing to work across the aisle, labeled girls’ sports advocates as “extreme.” This rigid ideological stand is neither righteous nor representative of his thirteen million constituents — it’s also the antithesis of “working across the aisle,” as two-thirds of Democrats support protecting girls’ sports.

But hypocrisy aside, girls in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are still waiting to be delivered from this injustice. Since 2020, at least 66 girls have lost placement or medals due to men competing in their sport. It’s not an abstract foul happening sparingly in the periphery, it’s a very real issue that we’re hearing about every week.

I, Joe D’Orsie, have seen firsthand the lengths that Democratic elected officials in Pennsylvania will take to stifle the rights of girls they represent. That’s why I and four other dads in the Statehouse have introduced the ‘Dad’s Defending Daughter’s’ Act. The fight to save girls’ sports has long been a women-led initiative, even dating back to its Title IX roots — until now. Our message? Dads need to get off the bench and get into the game for their daughters, granddaughters and nieces. This first-of-its-kind in the nation bill, HB 1849, was introduced in June and still awaits consideration.

In Pennsylvania, girls have endured well over 200 days of Democrat delay tactics in the House, blocking the consideration bills that would ensure their safety and privacy in their sport. Since the genesis of this fight in Pennsylvania in 2021 (HB 972) girls have waited for justice, and Democratic politicians have stood in their way at every crossroad, from then Governor Wolf’s veto of a broadly bipartisan bill to Democratic House leaders now repeatedly re-referring legislation to avoid a floor vote. Pennsylvania dads reject the delays and obstruction. Our daughters matter more than political games and a handful of extreme ideologues who are on the wrong side of history. We’re no longer riding the pine; we’re in the game – and we won’t stop until our daughters have fair play.

If you’re a Pennsylvanian who stands with us, you can show your support by signing the I BELIEVE promise here: www.dadsdefendingdaughters.com

Paula Scanlan is a former UPenn Swimmer and girls’ sports advocate

Joe D’Orsie represents the 47th legislative district in the PA statehouse, is the father of a seven-year-old girl and was a Division 1 collegiate athlete.