Philadelphia Schools Refuse to Comply with Anti-Trans Executive Order - Lemmy.World
Article body: The School District of Philadelphia says it will allow transgender
students to compete in sports that match their identity. This decision comes in
response to recent rule changes made by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic
Athletic Association (PIAA) Board of Directors to restrict transgender
participation in school sports in order to comply with one of Donald Trump’s
executive orders. The executive order in question threatens to revoke federal
funding from educational institutions that permit transgender athletes to
compete on sports teams matching their gender. On February 19th, the PIAA held a
meeting to discuss the policy changes
[https://www.piaa.org/assets/web/documents/Summary%20of%20Board%20of%20Directors%20Meeting%20-%20February%2019,%202025.pdf].
One topic addressed at this meeting was Executive Order 14201, entitled “Keeping
Men Out of Women’s Sports.” The board approved the motion to remove their
transgender policy and amend section 4—article XVI in the bylaws handbook. The
section covers mixed-gender participation in both in-season and out-of-season
rules and regulations. The section used to say, “Where a student’s gender is
questioned or uncertain, the decision of the Principal as to the student’s
gender will be accepted by PIAA.” The rewording now substitutes “gender” with
“sex” and replaces “Principal” with “school.” The amendment added reads as
follows: “In accordance with the Presidential Executive Order 14201 entitled
‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’, dated February 5, 2025, schools are
required to consult with their school solicitors relative to compliance with the
Order.” The policy shift would apply to all school districts in the state of
Pennsylvania despite contradicting state laws banning gender discrimination, as
well as Title IX, which bans sex-based discrimination in education, which some
lawyers argue bans anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in schools. The School District of
Philadelphia plans to continue allowing students to compete participate in
sports teams aligning their gender in accordance to state laws. Christina Clark,
communications officer for the School District of Philadelphia, said in a
statement, “The district will continue to align its practices to support its
LGBTQ+ students in accordance with Board Policy 252 for transgender and gender
non-conforming students.” Board Policy 252
[https://www.philasd.org/schoolboard/wp-content/uploads/sites/884/2017/06/252.pdf]
forbids school staff from disclosing a student’s chosen gender identity to not
only other staff and students but to parents as well and says that transgender
and gender-nonconforming students shall be permitted to participate in sports
and physical education classes in a manner consistent with their gender
identity. Staying resolute in their policy could pose issues, especially when
competing against PIAA-compliant schools. Kristina Moon, an attorney with the
Education Law Center, suggests “they could comply or they could challenge it in
court, or with a complaint.” Trump’s order threatens to cut school funding for
noncompliance. Philadelphia uses federal grant funding to support special
education services and early childhood development programs, which make up
nearly $619.3 million of its $4.5 billion operating budget. It’s not just
Philadelphia that’s refusing to comply with Trump’s order. Recently, New
Jersey’s athletics association for school districts, the New Jersey State
Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), affirmed that it would not be
changing its policies on trans athletes, saying that the organization’s policies
are designed to be consistent with state law. The California Interscholastic
Federation (CIF) also refused to change policies for the same reasons. When
asked to comment on their decision, a spokesperson for the CIF sent an email
stating: “The CIF provides students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and
compete in education-based experiences in compliance with California law which
permits students to participate in school programs and activities, including
athletic teams and competitions, consistent with the student’s gender identity,
irrespective of the gender listed on the student’s records,” One of the boldest
acts of defiance concerning this order came from Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D).
After the president called her out for not complying with his order during a
governors’ meeting he hosted at the White House, Mills confronted him directly.
She informed him that his order doesn’t take precedence over state and federal
laws, and Maine would not comply. Mills ended by saying, “See you in court”
after Trump threatened to end all federal funding to Maine.