East Central Reporter

State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) said the Illinois High School Association's (IHSA) decision to maintain a policy allowing male athletes identifying as transgender to compete in girls sports contradicts President Donald Trump's executive order, which aims to preserve fairness in women's sports.   

“I believe the IHSA’s decision to double down on a policy that allows biological males to compete in girls’ sports is a serious mistake,” Halbrook told the East Central Reporter. “Their position directly contradicts the intent of President Trump’s recent Executive Order and longstanding federal protections under Title IX. Title IX was created to protect women’s opportunities—not to sacrifice them in the name of a political agenda. By ignoring biological differences and dismissing legitimate concerns about fairness, safety, and privacy, the IHSA is failing our young women and girls.”

Halbrook further emphasized the importance of preserving fairness in women's sports. 

“Allowing biological males to compete in female sports is fundamentally unfair and undermines the integrity of girls’ athletics,” he said. “This isn’t just a political issue—it’s about protecting equal opportunity and preserving safe, competitive environments for our daughters, granddaughters, and future generations of female athletes. Girls shouldn’t have to give up scholarships, medals, or a fair playing field because organizations like the IHSA refuse to acknowledge basic biological facts.” 

Trump’s executive order, titled "Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports," issued on Feb. 5, directs the Department of Education to enforce Title IX protections based on biological sex and mandates that sports designated for women be reserved for biological females and threatens to rescind federal funding from institutions that fail to comply.

In response to a letter from 40 Illinois Republican House members, including Halbrook, seeking clarification on its stance, the IHSA stated it would not comply, citing a conflict with the Illinois Human Rights Act, which permits participation based on gender identity.

“The Illinois Human Rights Act requires that transgender athletes be permitted to participate in events and programs aligning with the gender with which they identify,” the IHSA’s letter reads. “As a result of the foregoing, compliance with the Executive Order could place the ISA out of compliance with the Illinois Human Rights Act and vice versa.”

The IHSA emphasized that it does not receive federal or state funding, insulating it from the order's financial penalties. 

IHSA administrators have not responded to the East Central Report’s requests for clarification on their position.

The controversy surrounding the IHSA's policy comes amid federal investigations into the Illinois Department of Education, Chicago Public Schools District 299 and Deerfield Public Schools District 109 for alleged Title IX violations. 

In one notable case, Deerfield Middle School has faced significant complaints from parents and students after administrators allegedly forced a group of girls to change in front of a male student in their locker room.

Halbrook represents the 102nd House District, which includes the counties of Champaign, Douglas, Edgar, Macon, Moultrie, Shelby and Vermilion.