"This is not about politics. This is about people. This is about a child," one parent said during the Naperville Community Unit School District 203 board meeting. Another parent expressed concern, saying, "No girl should be denied participating in a conference championship because a genetic boy is taking that spot." Marie Davis, whose 7th-grade daughter competed in the meet, said, "I was actually shocked. At first I couldn't believe it. I started talking to other parents, and it's like is this really happening?" Doug Krein, another parent, added, "It's pretty upsetting to see your kid distraught out there trying to do her best and doesn't really have a shot."
Per CBS Chicago, Illinois’ Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on gender identity in educational settings in the state. “Transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming students often face barriers to participation in school athletics and other gender-based activities. Physical education, school sports teams, and school clubs are considered ‘facilities, goods and services’ under the Act and students are entitled to participate in these activities free from discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender-related identity,” the Illinois Department of Human Rights states , adding that “students cannot be prevented from access to, full participation in, or the equal enjoyment of extracurricular activities due to their gender-related identity.” The school district declined to comment on the controversy, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and district policy, stating, "We cannot and will not share personal or identifiable information about any student." The group Awake Illinois has filed a U.S. Department of Education civil rights complaint against the district, alleging a violation of Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination. "I hope they freeze every dollar of the 8.9-million you've budgeted for 2026 until you abide by Title IX," said Shannon Adcock of Awake Illinois.
Despite the tensions, one parent thanked the board, saying, "Thank you for doing your job and upholding Illinois law."
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Per CBS Chicago, Illinois’ Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on gender identity in educational settings in the state. “Transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming students often face barriers to participation in school athletics and other gender-based activities. Physical education, school sports teams, and school clubs are considered ‘facilities, goods and services’ under the Act and students are entitled to participate in these activities free from discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender-related identity,” the Illinois Department of Human Rights states , adding that “students cannot be prevented from access to, full participation in, or the equal enjoyment of extracurricular activities due to their gender-related identity.” The school district declined to comment on the controversy, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and district policy, stating, "We cannot and will not share personal or identifiable information about any student." The group Awake Illinois has filed a U.S. Department of Education civil rights complaint against the district, alleging a violation of Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination. "I hope they freeze every dollar of the 8.9-million you've budgeted for 2026 until you abide by Title IX," said Shannon Adcock of Awake Illinois.
Despite the tensions, one parent thanked the board, saying, "Thank you for doing your job and upholding Illinois law."
