Tensions flare at school board meeting after trans athlete wins multiple track events
Share and Follow

Parents and residents clashed at a school board meeting in Chicago on Monday after a trans junior high school student won multiple events at a local track meet.

The Naperville 203 Community School District Board meeting was at times contentious, with roughly 100 people in attendance, split between the main room and an overflow viewing area.

Those in support of the trans athlete waved the blue, pink and white striped transgender flag, while those advocating for athletes to compete against people of the same biological sex held signs reading “Protect girls sports” and “Defend Title IX,” a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in education.

Dorothy Powers speaks about transgender athlete

Speaker Dorothy Powers talks about the transgender athlete controversy at the Naperville 203 Community School District Board meeting. The controversy centered around a biological male who competed in a 7th grade track meet against biological females at the Naper Prairie Conference Meet. (Fox News)

Parent Tim Thompson said the controversy is not truly about races or a specific athlete, but rather part of a broader effort to target transgender students.

“Don’t be fooled. It was never about a race, and it was never about an athlete,” Thompson said. “This is an attempt to further marginalize the group and tell them that they don’t belong, that they aren’t good enough.”

Awake Illinois has filed a civil rights complaint against the district, with the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights alleging a violation of Title IX.

They called on federal funds to be withheld from the district, which it says receives between $8 million and $9 million in federal grants annually. The complaint is part of a broader effort by Awake Illinois, which previously filed similar Title IX complaints against other districts and the Illinois State Board of Education.

Shannon Adcock of Awake Illinois also spoke out at the meeting.

Trans flag and track and field split image

Parents and residents clashed at a school board meeting in Chicago on Monday after a trans junior high school student won multiple events at a local track meet. (Getty Images)

“Now in 2025, you’ve got boys stealing girls’ victories, leaving young girls sobbing on the track,” Adcock said. “This isn’t inclusion. It’s oppression.”

Meanwhile, Lauren Hruby said that a solution may be to give trans students a different class of sports to compete against one another.

“But I think for women, I don’t think we stand a chance against a male,” she said. “I know a lot of these girls practice their entire life to try to get a scholarship, and there’s a lot lost opportunities, so I just wanted to come and support women in women’s sports.”

Fox News’ Patrick McGovern contributed to this report. 

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Disney scores 103 Children's & Family Emmy Award nominations, setting a new company record

Disney Sets New Company Record with 103 Children’s & Family Emmy Award Nominations

The Walt Disney Company has once again set a new benchmark by…
Who Is Manousos on ‘Pluribus’? Meet Carlos-Manuel Vesga

Introducing Manousos on ‘Pluribus’: Get to Know Carlos-Manuel Vesga

Four episodes into the Apple TV series Pluribus, viewers find themselves immersed…
Kathleen Turner seen in wheelchair amid debilitating health battle

Kathleen Turner Spotted in Wheelchair as Health Challenges Intensify

Kathleen Turner recently stepped into the spotlight at the Citymeals on Wheels…
Why Bruce Willis' wife turned to therapy after his dementia diagnosis

Bruce Willis’ Wife Seeks Therapy Support Following His Dementia Diagnosis: A Journey of Love and Resilience

Emma Heming Willis has candidly shared one of the most challenging decisions…
Florida serial killer fears spread after three women found dead in three days

Concerns Rise as Three Women Found Dead in Florida Over Three Days, Prompting Serial Killer Speculations

Authorities in Florida are addressing social media buzz concerning a supposed “serial…
FILE - Carnival Cruise Line

Stepbrother Emerges as Suspect in Carnival Cruise Passenger’s Death Investigation

A 16-year-old has been identified as a suspect in the death of…
Ryan Wedding: Ex-Olympian turned alleged drug kingpin accused of ordering killing of witness

From Olympic Glory to Criminal Infamy: The Shocking Downfall of Ryan Wedding

Federal authorities have revealed the arrest of nearly a dozen individuals connected…
PILL made by Mounjaro maker also helps patients slash high blood sugar

Mounjaro Manufacturer Develops New Pill Proven to Significantly Reduce High Blood Sugar Levels

An innovative weight loss pill developed by the creators of Mounjaro has…