East Central Reporter

Adam Niemerg, a state representative for Illinois House District 102, said that legislators are still awaiting a response from the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) regarding compliance with federal directives prohibiting athletes from participating in sports opposite their sex assigned at birth. He made this statement on Facebook on April 8.

"We are still awaiting a response from the Illinois High School Association on their intent to comply with federal directives prohibiting athletes from participating in single-sex sports opposite of their sex assigned at birth," said Niemerg, according to Facebook.

According to Niemerg, he is not the only legislator seeking clarification. In March, Senator Li Arellano and 18 other senators signed a letter addressed to IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. The letter requested details on how the IHSA plans to align with former President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at protecting single-sex sports for female athletes. The lawmakers noted that the IHSA currently allows transgender students to request eligibility based on gender identity.

Screenshot of State Representative Adam Niemerg's April 9 Facebook post. | State Representative Adam Niemerg's Facebook page.

Niemerg shared a link to an article by 25 News Now indicating that the IHSA is formulating a response to legislators' demands for compliance with Trump's executive order on transgender athletes in sports. According to Executive Director Matt Troha, the IHSA is not commenting publicly on the issue.

The executive order issued on February 5 calls for private sports organizations to gather at the White House. It aims to present firsthand accounts from female athletes who claim they have suffered long-term injuries, been silenced, or forced to share facilities with male athletes. The order emphasizes the impact on women's opportunities and privacy, stating that female athletes have lost medals and resources due to biological advantages of male athletes in female-only sports.

Niemerg has represented Illinois’ 109th District since January 13, 2021. A native of Teutopolis, he earned a bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University after attending Lake Land College. Before joining the Illinois General Assembly, he worked as a senior claims adjuster with Country Financial.