In October, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives paid homage to a true trailblazer in the pro-life movement.
Katherine True, an eight-term member of the Pennsylvania House and a longtime advocate for pro-life policy and pregnancy support services, passed away on October 7 at the age of 84. As a state legislator, True championed the creation, funding, and expansion of state-supported programs in Pennsylvania aimed at providing alternatives to abortion through counseling, pregnancy support, parenting education, and adoption services.
On October 27, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a resolution in her honor.
“Ms. True first won election to the 37th District of the House of Representatives in 1992; and her faithful service for the benefit of Lancaster County…and all residents of this Commonwealth continued through 2000,” the resolution states.
True served in the Pennsylvania House from 2003 to 2010 in addition to holding other key state government roles.
“Ms. True is remembered as an experienced advocate, a consensus builder and a compassionate, responsible leader among peers,” the resolution concluded.
Among the pro-life community, True was fondly remembered for her work in advancing Pennsylvania’s state-funded Real Alternatives Pregnancy and Parenting Support Services Program, which aided women facing unplanned pregnancies. The program connected them with services such as counseling, material assistance, and parenting resources through a network of community-based providers that included pregnancy resource centers, maternity homes, and adoption agencies.
Unfortunately, the state’s contract with Real Alternatives expired in 2023 and was not renewed.
In a column for National Right to Life, Maria Gallagher, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, listed True among the “outstanding female pro-life lawmakers who have led the charge to protect pregnant women and their babies from harm.”
“I will remember Katie as a practical, caring advocate for the most vulnerable. She was a decisive and efficient pro-life caucus leader who safeguarded our groundbreaking alternatives to abortion program funding pregnancy resource centers throughout the Commonwealth. Sadly, pro-abortion Governor Josh Shapiro defunded the program a few years ago.”
True pushed back against the misconception that pro-life policy was solely about restricting abortion, consistently arguing that genuine support for women was essential to any meaningful pro-life vision. Her ability to pair policy with empathy made her a respected figure among pregnancy center leaders.
At a 2009 conference that celebrated 150,000 women served in the Real Alternatives program, True said, “It’s a fantastic program because it is a ‘real alternative’… You absolutely don’t have to have an abortion… that message is starting to be picked up and heard again and again.”
At the organization’s 1998 conference, True said that the Real Alternatives program offered “the only choice that leaves a woman with dignity.”
Long before she became known for her pro-life leadership, True began her career in public service by founding “Kids Saving Kids,” a nationally recognized drug-education program for elementary students. She also served as youth director for the statewide drug and alcohol prevention coalition Pennsylvanians AWARE.
Pennsylvania’s Real Alternatives program, diligently supported by True, not only impacted the Keystone State but was also referenced as a national model. Texas, Indiana and Michigan are among the states that adopted similar frameworks, integrating state funding with community-based service providers to create scalable networks of pregnancy support.
“There will never be another Katie True,” wrote Gallagher. “But Pennsylvania women and children are much better off, thanks to her hard work and dedication.”