The Illinois High School Association has defied President Donald Trump’s order to ban transgender athletes from competing in female sports.
When Trump returned to the White House, he took action by signing an executive order that blocks transgender athletes from competing, part of a series of changes to the country’s transgender policies.
Illinois has joined the ranks of blue states pushing back against the federal government’s stance. The state’s high school association announced their refusal to comply with this directive, echoing a legal dispute happening in Maine over a similar issue.
Addressing the state’s Republican lawmakers in a public letter, IHSA President Dan Tully pointed out that aligning with the Trump administration’s order could potentially violate the Illinois Human Rights Act.
‘The Illinois Human Rights Act requires that transgender athletes be permitted to participate in events and programs aligning with the gender they identify.’
A total of 809 schools in Illinois are members of the association, which does not receive state or federal funding.
The letter states the association sought guidance from both state Attorney General Kwame Raoul and the Illinois Department of Human Rights.
The association is calling on state lawmakers to collaborate with the Trump administration to agree on clear guidelines, to avoid being in violation of conflicting policies.
Upon returning to the White House , Trump signed an executive order which prohibits transgender athletes from competition as part of sweeping changes to the nation’s trans policies
Illinois has now become the latest blue state to rally against the federal government’s position, with a high school association revealing it would not comply. Pictured: An attendee at the Chicago Pride Parade in Illinois
There were two biological boys who participated in girls sports in the 2023-2024 school year.
This year, there are three biological boys competing in girls divisions across tennis, track and field, and soccer.
Tully’s letter said the IHSA ‘simply desires to comply with the law and takes no position as to which of the foregoing is correct or whether there can be alignment between claimed federal and state law.’
Republicans have rallied against the IHSA’s decision, with representative Blaine Wilhour even calling on the Trump administration to cut funding to the state until lawmakers fall into line.
‘The whole policy is sick,’ he told Fox News.
‘Either you believe in fair competition or you don’t. The Democrat Party today… does not believe in fair competition. They put their woke ideology over protecting girls in sports.
‘[The Trump administration is] going to have to engage here, and the leverage that they’ve got is federal funding.
‘We take millions in federal funding from the government every year. And we don’t really savor the situation where that would be withheld. But I’ll take my chances with doing the right thing.
The letter states the association sought guidance from both state Attorney General Kwame Raoul (pictured) and the Illinois Department of Human Rights
The association is calling on state lawmakers to collaborate with the Trump administration to agree on clear guidelines, to avoid being in violation of conflicting policies. Pictured: An attendee at the Chicago Pride Parade in Illinois
‘Banning boys from participating in girls sports is the right thing to do, so we need to do the tough things to make it happen.’
Illinois maintains that state law requires transgender athletes to be given the right to participate in sports based on their gender identity. This has been policy since 2011.
The IHSA website states that transgender athletes’ eligibility is managed on a case by case basis, determined by a range of factors.
One consideration is whether the gender identity is ‘bona fide and/or for the purpose of gaining competitive advantage.’
The state of Maine has mounted a similar defense, but the Trump administration is suing officials.
The lawsuit follows weeks of feuding between the Republican administration and Democratic Gov. Janet Mills that has led to threats to cut off crucial federal funding and a clash at the White House when she told Trump: ‘We’ll see you in court.’
Pictured: The podium of an Illinois cycling competition in 2023 in which transgender women nabbed the top two spots in the women’s division
Trump claims Maine’s education agency is violating the federal Title IX antidiscrimination law by allowing transgender girls to participate on girls teams.
The Justice Department is asking the court to order the state to direct all schools to prohibit the participation of males in athletic competition designated for females.
Attorney General Pam Bondi made the administration’s position clear, stating: ‘Pretty simple: girls play in girls’ sports, boys play in boys’ sports. Men play in men’s sports, women play in women’s sports.
‘President Trump, before he was elected, this has been a huge issue for him.’
