The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) recently amended a more trans-inclusive policy, creating a transphobic policy to comply with a Trump executive order. The order, entitled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” states that federal funding will be revoked from entities that “deny female students an equal opportunity to participate in sports and athletic events by requiring them, in the women’s category, to compete with or against or to appear unclothed before males.”
Almost immediately following Trump’s Feb. 5 announcement of this executive order, the NCAA — the organization that governs most college sports in the United States — banned trans student athletes from participating in women’s athletics.
PIAA — which is the governing body that oversees Pennsylvania’s high school sports — is now effectively attempting to do the same. On Feb. 19, its board voted to repeal a policy in which principals were named as the ultimate authority in determining a student’s gender eligibility. Trans athletes were not explicitly included or excluded, but according to that former policy, a principal would determine a student’s gender if it were ever “questioned or uncertain.”
It was an imperfect approach compared to policies that allow trans students to compete based on their own stated gender, but the rule empowered individual schools to make their own determinations about inclusivity in sports.
Western Pennsylvania website Trib Live, which has an active high school sports section, covered PIAA’s discussion of the topic in July 2023.
PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi told a Trib Live reporter that “there is no national consensus when it comes to determining a high school athlete’s gender,” noting that PIAA staff had surveyed every other state’s athletic association — finding no consistent or “better” approach in the policies those associations developed than the inclusive policy PIAA had implemented long before the most recent February change.
At the time, the PIAA Girls Athletics Steering Committee did not move to change the rule — and Lombardi viewed the inaction as supportive of the existing, more inclusive policy.
The “Trib Live” article’s author asserts that this previous PIAA policy had come under scrutiny after a trans girl medaled for the first time at a state track and field championship, but more details about that event were not provided.
PIAA’s new rule directs schools (not principals) to determine an athlete’s “sex” (not gender) when “questioned or uncertain” and adds that schools are required to consult with their school solicitors relative to compliance with the executive order. PIAA has not made any public comments about the rule change and did not note additional reasons beyond the executive order for the decision. Lombardi did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Just days before the rule change, a federal lawsuit was filed by Holly Magalengo — the parent of a Quakertown Community High School student, a cisgender girl, who competed against a trans athlete at a Delaware Valley competition in 2024.
The trans girl named in Magalengo’s lawsuit competed at the state’s track and field championship on Mar. 2, 2025 — placing 17th out of 20 competitors in her race. Her participation signals that some districts have chosen to support their trans athletes rather than comply with the state’s new rule.
The School District of Philadelphia is also choosing to defy this new policy and Trump’s executive order by refusing to institute an outright ban.
“This is a win for trans youth, and I’m glad to see the school district making the right decision,” said Councilmember Rue Landau, who held a hearing on Jan. 22 about the city’s preparedness for handling Trump’s efforts against marginalized groups. “I will always stand with those in the LGBTQ+ community who are most at risk — and with the recent executive orders coming down, that means our trans and nonbinary youth.”
“The school district’s decision to stand up against Trump’s discriminatory policies is a reflection of Philly’s values,” she continued. “We will not allow fear or politics to strip away the dignity and opportunities of transgender youth.”
“The School District of Philadelphia strives to ensure safety, equity and justice for all students regardless of gender identity or gender expression so that they can imagine and realize any future they desire,” reads a statement released by the district. “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.”
The policy covers a breadth of needs and experiences for trans students — including interactions with staff, confidentiality, student records and dress codes — and it takes an overall affirming stance on trans rights. It also safeguards access for trans students to facilities, such as locker rooms and bathrooms, and activities that align with their gender identity.
This includes the right to participate in gym classes and intramural sports in a way that is consistent with their gender identity. But language regarding trans-inclusion in interscholastic sports — which PIAA oversees — is less overtly supportive and doesn’t offer trans kids a straightforward path toward participation.
“Participation in competitive athletic activities and contact sports will be resolved on a case-by-case basis,” the policy reads in a section that specifically addresses interscholastic opportunities. This means that Philadelphia’s trans students may or may not be welcome and supported by the district in the typical high school competitions people think of as “school sports.” For instance, they may or may not be permitted to join their high school basketball team. It just depends.
A representative of the Philadelphia School District declined an interview with PGN.
Just as many of Trump’s other executive orders have been challenged in court, at least one lawsuit has been filed in response to his ban on trans girls participating in girls’ high school sports. And current laws and court rulings supersede Trump’s directives.
The US House of Representatives passed a bill that would bar trans athletes from participating in women’s sports — including K-12 schools that receive federal funding — but Democrats blocked the bill in the Senate. This means there is no federal law in place that bans trans athletes at any level from participating in sports. Some states have established their own laws — and although one has not yet passed in Pennsylvania, a bill in the state Senate.
Ten Republican women have sponsored and co-sponsored the bill, which is called the “Save Women’s Sports Act.” It has been referred to the Education Committee.
Sex-based discrimination — including discrimination against trans student athletes — is prohibited under current interpretations of Title IX, whether or not an executive order commands discrimination.
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) — the governing body that oversees New Jersey’s high school sports — cited anti-discrimination laws and state policies as a guiding factor for its own policy regarding trans student athletes.
The policy it established is more direct, comprehensive and inclusive — and for now, it’ll stay that way. The same night that PIAA voted to change its policy, NJSIAA announced it would not change its own.
The NJSIAA policy, which was originally established in 2009, has always permitted trans students to participate in sports and allows students to declare their own gender identity.
“The transgender student is eligible to play sports consistent with either their birth sex or their gender identity, but not both,” reads the policy — permitting nonbinary students can play sports with the gendered group that most closely aligns with their own identity or with the group they feel most comfortable with.
“Factors that the nonbinary athlete may take into consideration include established camaraderie with fellow athletes, personal safety, and/or privacy concerns,” the policy reads.
NJSIAA allows schools to enter a confidential appeals process if it is believed that a particular trans student would adversely affect competition or safety — but to date, there haven’t been any controversies or appeals.
This approach allows for nuance to exist as dialogues emerge about trans participation while also establishing firm guidelines that are inclusive and supportive of trans students.
The “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” was introduced in New Jersey — with a similar goal to the bill introduced in Pennsylvania. Twelve senators have signed onto the bill, but with Democrats in control of both the state’s House and Senate, transphobic legislation is less likely to pass.
