State Senator Li Arellano, Jr, and the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus, sent a letter this week to the Executive Director of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) requesting clarification on the organization’s policies regarding transgender athletes in high school sports.
Republican lawmakers are seeking confirmation that IHSA will be enacting policies that align with recent federal directives ensuring fairness in high school athletics, specifically protecting single-sex sports for female athletes. The letter highlights the need for Illinois’ policies to comply with federal guidelines that prohibit students from participating in single-sex sports based on gender identity if it does not align with their birth sex.
In their letter, the Republican lawmakers requested a written response detailing how IHSA plans to update its policies to align with federal requirements while maintaining fairness and competitive balance in girls’ and women’s sports.
Senator Arellano, Jr signed onto the letter to the IHSA and believes that it’s important to protect the integrity of high school athletics across Illinois.
“It is deeply unfair to have biological males competing against biological females in competitive high school female-only sports,” said Senator Arellano, Jr. “That simple piece of common sense has been growing in public support, even across party lines, and I join my colleagues in seeking to ensure that IHSA and the State of Illinois follow guidelines in this regard.”
Illinois Republican Senators are eager to ensure that all athletes have a fair opportunity to compete in Illinois high schools and are looking forward to IHSA’s response.