Illinois State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) | Gage Skidmore (Flickr)
Illinois State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) | Gage Skidmore (Flickr)
Illinois State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) said that a Deerfield school’s decision to allow a biological male student to use female locker rooms is a grave violation of privacy, calling for the immediate dismissal of all adults involved. Wilhour made his comments in a March 16 social media post on X.
“A mother from Deerfield says her daughter was forced to change clothes in front of a biological male—while teachers and school officials stood by and did nothing. If that’s true, it’s not just wrong, it’s sick,” Niemerg said. “Every single adult who allowed this should be fired immediately and lose every dime of their taxpayer-funded benefits and federal funding terminated.”
“This is the radical agenda Democrats are forcing into our schools. They defend this. It’s time for Illinois parents to wake up and fight back. Enough is enough.”
Screenshot of Niemerg's Mar. 16 post on X.
| Adam Niemerg
Niemerg's remarks came in reaction to a report on Fox News about a local controversy involving a Deerfield mother, Nicole Georgas, and her daughter, who were caught in a dispute with school officials over privacy in locker rooms. Georgas claims that her daughter and other female students were forced to change in front of a biological male student in their locker room, a situation she described as both invasive and inappropriate.
The controversy erupted when the girls, uncomfortable with the male student’s presence, decided to skip changing for gym class, as reported by the Lake County Gazette. The next day, Assistant Principal Cathy Van Treese reportedly pulled the girls aside for questioning, and later that day, Van Treese, Assistant Superintendent Joanna Ford, and multiple teachers entered the locker room, forcing the girls to change into their uniforms. The male student was reportedly allowed to remain in the locker room while the girls changed.
In the interview with Fox News, Georges explained the emotional toll the situation had on her daughter and the other girls involved. “It’s hard to believe they were forced into this situation,” Georgas said, noting that the girls had tried to protest their discomfort by not changing. Georgas also emphasized her concern about setting a dangerous precedent, particularly for young girls, by allowing a biological male to access female-only spaces.
According to the Lake County Gazette, Georgas has filed a civil rights complaint with the Department of Education, claiming that the district’s actions violate Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs and activities. As of now, the school has not responded to multiple requests for comment.
Adam M. Niemerg is a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 102nd District since January 11, 2023, according to his Ballotpedia page. Born in Teutopolis, Illinois, he is the eldest of five children. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Eastern Illinois University and worked as a senior claims adjuster for Country Financial for 12 years. Niemerg resides in rural Dieterich, Illinois, with his wife, Trina, and their two children.