Illinois High School Association defies Trump's transgender athlete ban

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has announced it will not comply with President Donald Trump's executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in female sports, citing that adherence to the order would conflict with the Illinois Human Rights Act. State officials, including the Illinois Attorney General and Department of Human Rights, have advised the IHSA that state law requires allowing transgender athletes to participate in events that align with their gender identity. The IHSA emphasized its intent is simply to comply with the law rather than take a political stance, but acknowledged the resulting conflict places it in an 'untenable position.' Republican lawmakers in Illinois have criticized the decision, arguing it undermines fairness and safety in girls' sports, and have pressured the IHSA to reverse course, with some calling for federal funding to be withheld. The controversy reflects broader national tensions, as Illinois joins other states like Maine in opposing the federal directive. Transgender athletes have been eligible to compete in girls' sports in Illinois since 2011, and the number of such athletes remains small.