Pennsylvania School apologizes after transgender athlete uses girls' bathroom: Report

Staff at a district in Montgomery County told parents and students that news of a transgender athlete using the girls’ bathroom left them “surprised.”

The incident occurred earlier this week when girls on the Wissahickon High School cross-country team noticed a transgender female athlete, who was born male, speak to some of the other players before using a stall to change into uniform.

In an apology reportedly sent to families and shared on social media, the school said, “we sincerely apologize that some students and their families were taken off guard and felt uncomfortable and uninformed. This was never our intent.”

The school then clarified that the student would use a gender-neutral bathroom moving forward.

The Center Square was unsuccessful in obtaining comment from the school district to confirm the validity of the apology or learn more about the incident.

The situation, although uncommon, raises concern among lawmakers who are adamant that a law is passed to limit access to girls' and women’s spaces, such as in locker rooms or on sports teams.

Proposals pending in the Legislature – Senate Bill 9 and House Bill 158 – however, do not have majority support. Rep. Joe D’Orsie, R-York, said that the legislation would have prevented the “troubling incident.”

“Not only that, but House Democrats have willfully and repeatedly blocked this initiative to keep girls safe – on their sports teams and in their locker rooms and bathrooms,” he told The Center Square on Thursday. “Young women and girls deserve better.

"House Democrats must muster the courage to pass a law that protects these young women athletes, and all others across the Commonwealth, ensuring privacy, protection from potential abuse, and fair competition."

The issue lost momentum in May after SB9 cleared the upper chamber. At the time, House Democrats, who control the chamber’s voting schedule, said their priorities lie elsewhere, particularly during a time of economic hardship for taxpayers.

The vote came little more than a month after former Penn swimmer and right-wing media personality Paula Scanlan visited the Capitol to advocate for the legislation. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania after studying engineering and swimming alongside Lia Thomas, born Will Thomas and a competitor on the men’s team for three years prior.

Scanlan left a promising career in technology to advocate for women’s sports and against transgenderism, which she does not believe is valid.