Two transgender girls, Parker Tirrell, 16, and Iris Turmelle, 15, from a high school in New Hampshire, have taken legal action against the Trump administration's recent executive order banning transgender girls and women from participating in girls' sports. The teens had previously sued New Hampshire education officials over a state law that prevented them from competing on girls' sports teams at their public high schools.
Their attorneys from GLAD Law and the ACLU of New Hampshire have filed an amended complaint to expand the case nationally to challenge Trump's executive order. Chris Erchull, a senior staff attorney at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, stated that the executive order and others are part of a coordinated effort to hinder transgender individuals from participating fully in society.
School sports are considered an integral part of education, and the plaintiffs, Parker and Iris, simply want to attend school, learn, and play on teams with their peers. Trump's executive order, titled 'Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports,' threatens to withhold federal funding from educational programs that allow transgender girls to participate in girls' sports, citing Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in education.
Legal challenges have also been mounted against other executive orders targeting transgender individuals in various sectors. The participation of transgender girls and women in sports has sparked debates on the balance between inclusion and fairness on the playing field. Twenty-five states have enacted laws prohibiting transgender youth from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity.
Parker plays on her high school's soccer team, while Iris aims to try out for the tennis team. Both girls expressed their desire to play sports like any other student, emphasizing the importance of equal opportunities. Their lawsuit against the New Hampshire law is ongoing, with a US District Court ruling in September allowing them to play on girls' teams while the legal process unfolds.
