Rock Island Today

State Senator Neil Anderson, alongside the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus, has formally reached out to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) seeking clarity on its policies concerning transgender athletes in high school sports. This request follows recent federal directives aimed at ensuring fairness in athletics, specifically focusing on single-sex sports for female athletes.

The lawmakers are urging IHSA to align its policies with federal guidelines that restrict participation in single-sex sports based on gender identity when it does not correspond with an individual's birth sex. The letter from the caucus asks for a detailed written response from IHSA outlining how it plans to adjust its policies to comply with these federal requirements while preserving fairness and competitive balance in girls' and women's sports.

Senator Anderson emphasized the importance of this issue, particularly as a parent of a student-athlete. "As a father of a daughter who is a student-athlete, I see firsthand the importance of fairness and safety in sports," he stated. "There are only two genders: male and female, and our state must follow federal guidelines to ensure that women’s sports remain for women and men’s sports for men. This issue isn’t about politics; it’s about protecting a fair and level playing field. Parents across Illinois deserve clear answers."

The Republican Senators expressed their eagerness to ensure all athletes have equal opportunities to compete fairly in Illinois high schools and await IHSA's response.