Pennsylvania House Democrats Withdraw Women’s Month Resolution

Pennsylvania House Democrats have decided not to move forward with a resolution that would honor March as National Women’s Month. This decision followed the introduction of an amendment by Republicans that sought to define “woman” in physiological terms.

What was anticipated to be a straightforward vote turned into an unexpected moment in the chamber. Republicans brought the issue into public discussion, leading to laughter as Democrats opted to put the resolution on hold instead of engaging with the definition of “woman” in legislative terms.

During a busy session on Tuesday, House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-Southwest Philadelphia) asked the clerk to present House Resolution 390, aimed at recognizing March as Women’s History Month in Pennsylvania. Rep. Carol Hill-Evans, D-York, who sponsored the bill, emphasized the need to celebrate women’s achievements, noting how often they go unrecognized.

When McClinton queried the chamber about agreeing to the resolution, state Rep. Aaron Bernstein (R-Ellwood City) introduced his amendment. He insisted it was simply aimed at defining what a woman is, which he stated is a clear concept.

After a brief pause in the proceedings, McClinton declared, “The resolution is temporarily closed,” which elicited laughter from those present. Following this, she quickly moved on to the next item on the agenda, focusing on the Fairness Act proposed by Malcolm Kenyatta, a Democratic representative from North Philadelphia.

This situation mirrors a notable moment during Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearing when Sen. Marsha Blackburn pressed for a definition of “woman,” igniting wider discussions on gender and policy. Bernstein defended his amendment afterward, suggesting that defining women by their chromosomes was common sense.

He remarked, “They withdrew this bill because they were afraid to actually define what a woman is.” The resolution has been described as “temporarily terminated,” with the possibility of it being brought back in the future.

Bernstein added, “We’ll see if Democrats can truly define what a woman is,” hinting at ongoing discussions about women’s roles and identities. Meanwhile, Jason Gottesman, a representative for the House Republican Caucus, stated that if Democrats want to celebrate something they won’t define, it shows a lack of seriousness about the issue.

As of now, attempts to contact McClinton’s office for comment were met with no response.