Philly Plain Dealer

On February 19th of this year, the PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) board of directors did many things, but took two very questionable actions in particular. First, the board approved a decision to remove their Transgender Policy in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order focused on trans sports, from the PIAA Policy and Procedures Manual, effective immediately. Secondly, the PIAA made an amendment to Article XVI, Section 4, regarding Mixed Gender Participation. 

This change states that where a student’s sex gender is questioned or uncertain, the decision of the school Principal as to the student’s sex gender will be accepted by PIAA. In accordance with the Presidential Executive Order 14201 entitled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.”

These decisions are a direct ripple of Donald Trump and the executive branch’s transphobic rhetoric and policy. The board has chosen to effectively ban the Keystone State’s young trans athletes from participating in sports programs that correspond with their gender identity. This decision only further isolates one of the most vulnerable populations in this country. 

However, the Philadelphia School District is choosing to ignore this policy change. Instead, the district stated that they “will continue to align its practices to support its LGBTQ+ students in accordance with Board Policy 252 for transgender and gender non-conforming students.” 

In June 2016, the Philadelphia School District adopted Board Policy 252 with the purpose to “ensure safety, equity, and justice for all students regardless of gender identity or gender expression.”  

There are some who are concerned that the President will use the power of his office to freeze federal funding to the Philadelphia School District. In 2025, federal funding accounts for $181.7 million of the school district’s $4.6 billion dollar budget. 

Thankfully, it seems that the School District of Philadelphia has an ally regarding their LGBTQIA+ policy in the Women’s Law Project. On March 6th, the group sent a letter to the executive director of the PIAA, Robert A. Lombardi, and the aforementioned PIAA board of directors insisting that the President’s executive order “does not carry the force of law and as such does not supersede state or federal law.” The letter also goes on to state that “Pennsylvania law independently makes clear that transgender individuals have the right not to be discriminated against based on their gender identity.” 

It will certainly take a coalition of steadfast people to rail against the harmful policies laid forth by the federal government and PIAA.