Parents were packed at a school board meeting in Naperville, Illinois, on Monday to express outrage after a transgender-identifying student won multiple events in a girls’ track meet.
Approximately 100 people attended the Naperville 203 Community School District Board meeting, where the issue sparked intense debate. Supporters of the transgender student waved transgender pride flags, while others held signs reading “Protect girls’ sports” and “Defend Title IX.”
The controversy centered on a biological male who competed in a girls’ 7th-grade track event at the Naper Prairie Conference Meet, winning multiple events. Parents in attendance called for federal funds to be frozen at the district until current policies change, claiming they violate Title IX.
“These situations place feelings over reason and force other students and families to participate in something we all know is a lie,” said parent Mike LaBelle, according to a report by Fox News.
Doug MacGregor, another resident, claimed there was a political motive behind district policies. “Many of us knew then the achievement gap was just a Trojan horse for DEI’s real objective, pronouns and the radical LGBTQ-plus agenda,” he said.
“Naperville parents will spend literally tens of thousands of dollars on sports throughout their daughters lives: travel teams, coaches, summer camps, traveling to tournaments and meets, etc. and when their daughter steps up for her chance to win a state championship or medal,” he added. “She’ll lose to a biological male. That once in a lifetime moment gone because of DEI’s political agenda.”
Supporters of transgender athletes in attendance, however, argued that denying students the right to compete in their preferred gender category can harm their personal development.
In response to the controversy, the non-profit group Awake Illinois filed a civil rights complaint against the district. The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has alleged a Title IX violation.
