Pennsylvania State Senator Lindsey Williams (D-Pittsburgh) has ignited controversy with her claim that “female bodies are just as strong and fast and capable as male bodies.” The remark, made during a debate over the Save Women’s Sports Act (Senate Bill 9), quickly became a lightning rod for criticism, drawing the attention of prominent voices—including podcast host Joe Rogan.
The proposed legislation aims to restrict transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports, a move Williams vehemently opposed. She dismissed the bill as a political stunt, arguing,
“For what reason, other than political gain, are we spending time and taxpayer dollars on a completely made-up issue?”
Williams, a former three-sport high school athlete, pointed out that transgender athletes make up an estimated 0.002% of high school competitors.
“There are 8 million high school athletes across the country, and maybe 160 of them are trans,”
she said.
“This is the fifth time we are voting on this bill that targets less than .002% of high school athletes.”
Her remarks were met with staunch opposition from Republican lawmakers, who view the bill as a necessary step to preserve fairness in female sports. Bill co-sponsor Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill defended the measure, stating,
“Women before us successfully fought for equality with educational and athletic opportunity. In Title IX, it was a promise to our daughters and our granddaughters. And SB9 keeps that promise.”
Despite the pushback, the bill passed the committee in a 7-4 vote along party lines.
Joe Rogan wasted no time dissecting Williams’ statement during a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience (#2296) featuring comedian Big Jay Oakerson. The podcast host ridiculed the notion that men and women are physically equal in sports, calling it “absolutely ridiculous.”
“There was some lady who was just arguing that there’s no biological difference between men and women,”
Rogan said, incredulously.
“Pennsylvania state senator said there’s no biological advantage for men in women’s sports or disadvantage for women in men’s sports.”
Though he didn’t name Williams directly, he took issue with her argument:
“To say that men can’t run faster than women is just—you’re denying statistics and science and all the information that we have gathered forever. We have so much data. High school 15-year-old boys beat the women’s soccer team, the professional team. So shut the f- up. This is stupid to say.”
Rogan further argued that acknowledging biological differences isn’t an attack on women, adding,
“It’s not transphobic, homophobic, it’s not gender-phobic, it’s not misogynistic. It’s just a fact of physical nature.”
The discussion extended to the financial aspects of men’s and women’s sports, with Rogan noting that revenue discrepancies explain why leagues like the WNBA don’t see the same pay scales as their male counterparts.
Rogan’s stance is hardly surprising, given his history of outspoken criticism on the subject. He has repeatedly argued against transgender athletes competing in women’s divisions, particularly in combat sports. Notable MMA figures like Demian Maia, Sean O’Malley, Michael Bisping, and Kevin Lee have echoed similar concerns, citing fairness and safety issues.
The Save Women’s Sports Act is now moving forward in Pennsylvania’s legislative process, ensuring the debate over biological differences in sports remains a hot-button issue.
