Defending Our Daughters: Make the Promise, Says Gleim

January 7, 2026

HARRISBURG – Continuing her advocacy for fairness in women’s sports, Rep. Barb Gleim (R-Cumberland) invites residents of the 199th Legislative District to join the “Defending Our Daughters” campaign to show support for the Commonwealth’s female athletes.

All Pennsylvanians are invited to sign the “I Believe” promise to highlight the rights of girls to have a safe, fair and equal playing field; to compete to win games, championships and titles; to earn scholarships; and to have private locker rooms spaces, without males being present.

The promise also reinforces the shared responsibility of all Pennsylvanians, and specifically the state’s leaders, to get off the sidelines to protect and defend female athletes.

“The genesis of the ‘Defending Our Daughters’ campaign lies in the fact that an overwhelming number of Pennsylvanians support protection for female athletes and prevention of genetic males from competing in women’s sports,” said Gleim. “The mystery lies in why House Democrat leaders are going against the will of their constituents and not giving their rank-and-file members the opportunity to vote on corresponding legislation.”

The “I Believe” promise is available online for people to sign at defendingdaughters.com. Hard copies are also available in Gleim’s district office, located at 437 E North Street, Carlisle. The information will be shared with Gov. Josh Shapiro and House leaders to support action on the issue this year.

So far this session, majority House Democrats have avoided votes on three different bills aimed at protecting women’s sports. Senate Bill 9, which passed the Senate with bipartisan support in May, was initially – and appropriately – referred to the House Education Committee. To avoid a discharge resolution, the bill was re-referred to the Health Committee and is now in the Judiciary Committee. House Bills 158 and 1849 were also initially referred to the Education Committee but were re-referred to Judiciary in December, also to avoid discharge resolutions that would force a vote on the bills.

Representative Barb Gleim
199th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Scott Little
717-260-6137
slittle@pahousegop.com
RepGleim.com / Facebook.com/RepGleim