The School District of Philadelphia has announced that it will continue to allow transgender athletes to play in girls’ sports, despite Pennsylvania’s decision to comply with President Donald Trump’s “No Men in Women’s Sports” executive order. The district’s statement on Tuesday confirmed its commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ students, in line with its existing policy for transgender and gender non-conforming students. This decision goes against the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association’s recent policy revision that prevents trans athletes from competing in girls’ sports.
The city’s refusal to comply with Trump’s order marks the first known instance of a city defying its own state’s trans inclusion policy. While New York City’s education official expressed support for Trump’s order, both the city and state will continue allowing transgender athletes to compete until a final decision is made. In contrast, Wisconsin has updated its policies to only allow athletes “designated as females at birth” to compete in girls’ sports, while Michigan is considering a bill to prevent trans inclusion.
Four states – California, Massachusetts, Maine, and Minnesota – are under investigation for refusing to comply with the order, with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi warning of legal action for violating federal antidiscrimination laws. Bondi referenced the Justice Department’s recent lawsuits against Illinois and New York for defying federal immigration laws, indicating a willingness to take similar action against states that defy antidiscrimination laws. Despite the ongoing debate and opposing viewpoints, the issue of transgender inclusion in girls’ sports remains a contentious subject within various states.
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