Rock Island Today

Illinois Senate Republicans are calling on U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi for federal guidance to ensure fairness in girls’ and women’s sports in the state’s high schools. Led by State Senator Neil Anderson, the entire Senate Republican Caucus has signed a letter citing concerns about Title IX's intent following recent federal actions.

Senator Anderson voiced his belief, "There are two genders: male and female. No amount of identity politics changes biology." He stressed that allowing males to compete against females constitutes injustice, declaring it dangerous, unfair, and detrimental to women’s sports.

The issue surfaced when the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), following inquiries from Republican lawmakers, disclosed that it received conflicting directives from the Illinois Attorney General and the Department of Human Rights. Both agencies have instructed the IHSA to allow athletes to compete based on gender identity, a directive the IHSA suspects might conflict with federal law.

The senators seek clarity on several points: whether Illinois’ stance on allowing biological males in girls' sports conflicts with federal law, if this could risk federal funding, and the steps required for compliance with both the Executive Order and Title IX. President Trump’s Executive Order dated February 5, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” instructs federal agencies to align their interpretation of Title IX with its initial purpose—preserving single-sex competitions for biological females.

The IHSA has highlighted legal uncertainties stating, “The [Illinois] Attorney General (‘AG’) and, more recently, the Illinois Department of Human Rights (‘IDHR’) have asserted to the IHSA that the Illinois Human Rights Act requires that transgender athletes be permitted to participate in events and programs aligning with the gender with which they identify… Compliance with the Executive Order could place IHSA out of compliance with the Illinois Human Rights Act and vice versa.”

The association has urged both state and federal authorities to collaborate for coherent guidance. Senator Anderson, emphasizing parental concern, stated, “As a father of a student athlete, I will not stand by while our daughters are robbed of safety, opportunity, and the level playing field they deserve. This is a line in the sand, and I will fight to defend it.”

A copy of their request to Attorney General Bondi is available to the public.