East Central Reporter

Illinois Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) has been vocal in his criticism of President Joe Biden's efforts to change Title IX rules to block states from preventing boys from playing girls' sports, saying the effort would make athletics unfair.

"Sports is about competition, and you can only have a competition if there is a level playing field," Halbrook told the East Central Reporter. "Allowing males to compete against females creates a competitive imbalance, which is not fair to girls. Athletics are important and we must preserve the ability of both boys and girls to compete on a level playing field. There is a reason why we have not allowed boys to compete in girls’ sports. We must protect the integrity of our sports programs."

In the wake of Biden’s recent announcement about amending the parameters of Title IX, Prairie State Wire found that Illinois is now one of 29 states that allow boys to compete in girls’ sports on the high school level.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court stopped short of reversing a lower court’s verdict that blocked enforcement of a law passed two years ago in West Virginia that prohibited boys from taking part in girls’ high school sports. Many such as Halbrook say mixing genders would make games unfair, because of what he called "an observable truth."

"Even the World Athletics Council recognizes the biological differences between men and women," he said. "They have barred men from competing against females in track-and-field events because testosterone gives males an unfair advantage. This is science. This is common sense and something that should not even be up for debate."

Former University of Pennsylvania men's team swimmer Lia (formerly Will) Thomas won two titles in the women’s NCAA swimming championships, but earned criticism from many, such as rival Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, who Thomas tied in the 200-meter freestyle championship. Gaines and Halbrook have said Thomas has the edge being a man competing against women.

Along with Illinois, the states that currently allow boys to participate in girls’ high school sports are: Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

"Sports are a path to scholarships and other benefits for both boys and girls," Halbrook said. "Allowing boys to compete in girls’ sports diminishes the accomplishments of girls and denies them significant opportunities. We must protect girls’ sports."