Rock Island Today

Katy Hasson, longtime Principal of Rockridge High School and current member of the Illinois High School Association’s (IHSA) Board of Directors, is facing renewed scrutiny after she and all nine of her fellow IHSA board members declined to comment on the organization’s refusal to comply with a federal executive order banning biological males from participating in female sports.

Hasson, who made history in 2020 as only the second woman to serve as president of the IHSA Board in its nearly 120-year existence, has long touted her role as a female leader in school athletics. She served three terms as President of the IHSA Board.

She called it “pretty cool” to lead during the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Despite her past celebration of representing women in sports leadership, Hasson now faces criticism for supporting policies allowing biological males to compete in female sports.

Now in her ninth year on the board, Hasson has remained silent as lawmakers, parents and advocacy groups demand answers on why the IHSA continues to allow athletes to compete based on gender identity rather than biological sex, despite growing national and political pressure. 

The silence comes as the IHSA confirmed it has not held a recent vote on the matter, even as federal Title IX investigations and complaints mount in Illinois regarding biological males invading female sports and locker rooms. 

A recent New York Times/Ipsos poll found that a majority of Americans, including 67% of Democrats, believe transgender women should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports. The survey showed that 79% of all respondents opposed the participation of transgender female athletes, with 94% of Republicans and 64% of independents agreeing.

The Feb. 5 executive order, issued by President Donald Trump and titled "Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports," mandates that women’s sports be preserved for biological females and threatens to pull federal funding from non-compliant institutions. The order directs the Department of Education to enforce Title IX accordingly, asserting that gender identity-based participation undermines fairness, safety, and equal opportunity in girls’ sports.

In a letter responding to 40 Republican Illinois lawmakers, the IHSA said it is bound by the Illinois Human Rights Act and guidance from the Illinois Attorney General, which allows biological males to compete in female sports according to their gender identity. 

IHSA Assistant Executive Director Matt Troha said that the association has not changed its policy. 

“There has been no recent vote by the IHSA Board on this matter,” Troha told Prairie State Wire. “Per our letter, there is a law in Illinois that has existed for many years that allows participation by transgender student-athletes in IHSA State Series (post-season) competition. President Trump’s Executive Order obviously conflicts with that, and we have reached out to state lawmakers seeking clarification on remaining in legal compliance.”

But Troha is the only IHSA official to speak publicly. Hasson has not responded to media inquiries.

State Rep. Regan Deering (R-Macon) drew parallels between the IHSA’s current stance and its prior strict adherence to COVID mandates which were enforced during Hasson’s tenure as President of the IHSA Board. 

“We’ve seen this story before,” she said. “The Governor forced unlawful mask mandates on our schools, and it took brave families filing lawsuits to win back local control. Now it’s girls’ sports and locker room privacy.”

During Hasson’s tenure as president, the IHSA’s pandemic policies were heavily criticized including by a group of Illinois student athletes and parents who sued the organization, arguing that the postponement of fall sports in 2020 like football, soccer and volleyball due to COVID violated IHSA’s own bylaws. 

Athletes were required to wear masks during outdoor sports like soccer and golf, and cheerleaders were instructed to perform in silence. 

The White House last week acknowledged the lack of conclusive evidence on the effectiveness of such mandates and other Covid protocols, criticizing public health officials for inconsistent guidance.

Hasson also drew attention in 2019 after informing parents of a teacher’s resignation following allegations of inappropriate electronic communication with students. While she confirmed the resignation, further details were not disclosed.