Democrats just blocked a trans sports ban in Pennsylvania after Republican lawmakers tried to force a vote, and they used an interesting legal maneuver to prevent it from even coming up for a vote.Democrats control the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, but only by a single vote, while Republicans control the states Senate. The Pennsylvania Senate has already passed S.B. 9, a bill that would ban transgender college and university students from participating in school sports. Related Mom rips clueless GOP lawmaker who asked 12-year-old girl about pornography The Pennsylvania Republican didnt apologize until national media coverage shamed him into it. The bill was referred to the states House Education Committee, where it hasnt come up for a vote. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today House Republicans tried to force the committee to vote on the bill using a discharge resolution. Such a resolution allows 25 House members to petition to force the committee to vote on the bill if its been in committee for 15 session days.Instead of taking that vote, the House Education Committee voted to send the bill to the House Health Committee in a 14-12 party-line vote, restarting the 15-day clock and effectively blocking a vote on the bill.I will never support legislation that targets any at-risk community, including our LGBTQIA+ neighbors, said state Rep. Peter Schweyer (D), whos the chair of the House Education Committee, LevittownNow reports. Simply stated, S.B. 9 would make school harder for kids already facing serious and severe bullying. S.B. 9 would not add one teacher to the classroom, repair one broken school building air conditioner, buy one new textbook, or help one kid get into college or find a good-paying job, he continued.Republicans, though, cried foul. Nine of the Republicans on the committee gave speeches denouncing the vote to send the bill to another committee, claiming that state Democrats were hurting cisgender girls by protecting trans girls access to an equal education.Its time we stand with our female athletes in Pennsylvania, said state Rep. Bryan Cutler (R), who is on the House Education Committee. They not only deserve a fair shot on the field, I believe theyve earned a fair vote and a full vote on the House floor. Pennsylvania is the state where one of the most famous trans college athletes attended school, swimmer Lia Thomas. The University of Pennsylvania, which she swam for, will strip Thomas of the titles she won and ban trans students from participating in sports as part of an agreement with the federal Department of Education.Penn became the center of national controversy in 2022 over Thomas participation on the womens team. The university staunchly stood by Thomas in the face of horrific backlash, which also led to the rise of right-wing activity, including Riley Gaines, who tied for fifth place with Thomas at a swim meet.In March, the White House confirmed plans to pause $175 million in federal funding from the University of Pennsylvania over its policies regarding trans students participation in sports. The school also agreed to send a personalized letter of apology to each impacted female swimmer.Trans advocates in the state oppose S.B. 9.When they participate in school sports, our youth learn important lessons including how to win with dignity, how to lose with grace, how to support their teammates, and how to play by the rules, said Corinne Goodwin of the Eastern PA Trans Equity Project.The Supreme Court has taken up two cases about state bans on trans people participating in school sports. One of those cases, Hecox v. Little, involves a student at Boise State University who wants to run on her college track team.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.