The statement comes days after the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association board announced its compliance with the order, removing its transgender policy.
The School District of Philadelphia has stated that it will defy an executive order from President Trump requiring separate athletic teams for the biological sexes.
“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,” said Christina Clark, school district spokesperson, in a Tuesday 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, adopted in 2016, is the district’s current policy regarding matters of gender, which specifies trans-identifying students can keep their biological sex secret and allows students to participate in any activity or conform to any practice according to their “gender identity.” The policy also explicitly permits students to use the locker room of their choice, adding that students who desire “increased privacy” can request an alternative changing area.
The district’s announcement comes just days after the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association’s (PIAA) board shared that the athletic conference has updated its policies to comply with the order.
Notably, it is unclear whether the PIAA’s new policy would prevent the School District of Philadelphia from sending a trans-identifying male student to compete against females. The PIAA maintains that “Where a student’s sex is questioned or uncertain, the decision of the school as to the student’s sex will be accepted by PIAA,” and leaves schools to consult with their personal solicitors concerning compliance with the President’s order.
Women’s rights advocates, who have widely celebrated the move to prevent biological males from participating in women’s sports, are expressing concerns at Philadelphia School District’s refusal to abide by the same rules as other districts.
“This should surprise no one. @PADems are transgender radicals including @GovernorShapiro, a longtime transgender activist who continues to drive the trans agenda forward,” wrote Meg Brock, an investigator for the Daily caller and Pennsylvania native, on X. “Female athletes in Philadelphia deserve safety. The battle is just beginning, no state left behind.”
This should surprise no one.@PADems are transgender radicals including @GovernorShapiro, a longtime transgender activist who continues to drive the trans agenda forward.
Female athletes in Philadelphia deserve safety. The battle is just beginning, no state left behind. pic.twitter.com/jmoyWDh9PR
— Meg Brock (@MegEBrock) February 26, 2025
Philadelphia School District is not alone in its decision to maintain its pro-trans athletic policy despite President Trump’s orders. Last week, Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) squabbled with the President in an exchange at the bipartisan National Governors Association winter summit. In the interaction, Trump called out Maine for its failure to comply with the executive order on girls’ sports, threatening that the decision would cost the state its federal funding.
The executive order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” has received numerous instances of pushback from democratic-led states since it was first issued on Feb. 5. On Tuesday, the Department of Justice, overseen by Attorney General Pam Bondi, issued letters warning officials in Maine, California, and Minnesota to comply with the order, as well as federal Title IX protections for women.
“This Department of Justice will defend women and does not tolerate state officials who ignore federal law,” Bondi stated. “We will leverage every legal option necessary to ensure state compliance with federal law and President Trump’s executive order protecting women’s sports.”
