Illinois has become Latest blue state To enable transgender athletes to play women’s sports. State Republicans are actively trying to change that.
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has announced it will not comply with President Donald Trump Presidential Order To keep trans athletes out of girls and women’s sports.
In a public letter to state GOP lawmakers, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raul and the Illinois Department of Human Rights have declared that state law requires transgender athletes to participate based on gender identity.
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Illinois uses a playbook similar to that Maine is using in its ongoing feud with the Trump administration over the issue, citing the state’s human rights law as a barrier to ban biological men from women’s sports.
“As a result of the aforementioned, compliance with the executive order could remove the IHSA from compliance with Illinois human rights law and vice versa,” IHSA committee president Dan Tully wrote in the letter.
Tully added that the IHSA will find itself in a “unacceptable position” as the organization has made it clear about conflicting directions from state authorities and the Trump administration.
“There is a growing narrative of trying to politicize the IHSA response, but as clearly explained in the copy of the letter below, IHSA seeks clarity of conflicting state and federal laws, so we are able to maintain compliance,” the IHSA statement said.
The Illinois GOP lawmaker sent his letter to the IHSA in March, asking what the body would do to change policies after Trump’s executive order was passed. Transgender athletes have been permitted to compete in women’s sports in Illinois since 2011.
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In response to the IHSA’s recent announcement, GOP lawmakers from several prominent states spoke out against the rule.
The lawmaker who led the initiative to send the first letter to the IHSA on the issue told Fox News Digital that he is calling on Illinois school districts and school boards to pass local resolutions banning trans athletes from women’s sports.
“I think every school district needs to make it clear that we are protecting the sanctity of women’s sports, and we believe in local control of those decisions,” Willhall said. “I demand that everything in your local district take this position and do it. We win these issues when the push sticks out, but we need people to be bold and get out there and do the right thing.”
Wilhour has denounced Gov. JB Pritzker and the Democratic majority in state legislation that could include trans into women’s sports. Wilhour added that he is asking the Trump administration to step in and cut funds accordingly.
“The whole policy is sick. You either believe in fair competition or not. Democrats today, especially JB Pretzker, do not believe in fair competition.
“[The Trump administration is] You need to get involved here and the leverage they have is federal funding. We take millions of federal funds from the government every year. And we really don’t experience the situation that it is withheld. …But I take my chances by doing the right thing. …It is right to prohibit boys from participating in women’s sports. So you need to do tough things to make it happen. ”
Wilhour also encouraged the IHSA to overturn the direction of the state government and ban trans athletes from women’s sports anyway.
Maine has already seen the type of intervention Wilhour is seeking, both internally and federally.
The Maine School District 70 moved earlier this week to ban trans athletes from women’s sports and to comply with Trump, opposing state law.
Maine has already cut federal funds by the US Department of Agriculture, and the Justice Department has launched lawsuits against the state for its continued rebellion of Trump’s orders.
A federal Title IX investigation is already underway in Illinois after Deerfield’s mother claimed that her daughter was forced to change in front of trans students.
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Deerfield Public Schools District 109 faces US investigation Ministry of Education The Civil Rights Bureau after Illinois mother Nicole Georgas shed light on the situation.
She filed a civil rights complaint US Department of Justice The school administrator claimed that he tried to force his 13-year-old daughter to change in front of transgender students in the girls’ locker room last month.
She revealed her complaints during a school board meeting Deerfield Public School District 109 Last week, the incident allegedly happened last month after her daughter refused to change her uniform during physical education due to a biological male student.
Deerfield Public Schools 109 responded to the investigation in a statement to Fox News Digital, citing Illinois Human Rights Act on its protocol, as well as the IHSA.
“Deerfield Public Schools 109 District is governed by state law. Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits all public school districts, including gender identity, from discrimination based on gender, and requires students to allow access to locker rooms and bathrooms according to their gender identity,” the statement said.
The district also urged families to express concern about certain policies.
“The district and the board are united with our leaders and educators on this issue and have a common commitment to supporting the law,” the statement added.
“The district and the board are urging all people to express concerns and perspectives on the issue to ensure that staff and educators are respectful and civic. We are pleased to work with our families to determine the appropriate next step to help our children in the well-being and participation.”
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