In Naperville, a debate over a transgender student’s win in a middle school girls track became the central topic of a recent school board meeting, NBC News noted.
The track meet took place at Jefferson Middle School in Naperville, where the student athlete won multiple events.
At the meeting, almost 100 parents could be seen in the audience. Representing opposite perspectives, some raised transgender pride flags while others held signs that read “Protect Girls Sports” and “Stop Exploiting Kids.” Parents opposed to the student’s participation in the meet have asked for federal funds to be frozen at District 203 until the board changes its athletics policies, arguing they are in violation of Title IX.
Illinois’ Human Rights Act bans gender identity-based discrimination in educational settings throughout the state. Many professionals have stated that transgender girls and women are already underrepresented in sports, making up just a tiny percentage of student-athletes. On the collegiate level, the NCAA changed its policy the day after President Trump signed an executive order in early February that was intended to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls and women’s sports.