CONCORD, N.H. — A pair of students in New Hampshire who are contesting the state’s prohibition on transgender athletes participating in girls’ sports teams are set to also challenge an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump. This order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” received judicial approval for the students to include it in their legal battle on Wednesday.
According to the Boston-based GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, also recognized as GLAD Law, this appears to be the inaugural challenge in court regarding the constitutionality of Trump’s executive order signed the previous week. Chris Erchull, an attorney with GLAD, expressed profound concern regarding the systemic targeting of transgender individuals within American institutions, particularly in educational environments where young people are being denied critical support and opportunities during formative years.
Last autumn, a federal judge ruled that the two students could participate in girls’ school sports while they pursue their challenge against the state restrictions. The students involved in the case, Parker Tirrell, 15, and Iris Turmelle, 14, initiated a lawsuit in August aiming to dismantle the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, legislation that was enacted by former Republican Governor Chris Sununu in July.
Tirrell, currently in the 10th grade, is a participant on her high school’s soccer team, while Turmelle, a ninth grader, plans to audition for the tennis team during the upcoming spring season. “I really enjoy playing soccer and we had an amazing season last fall,” Tirrell remarked. “All I want is to attend school like my peers and continue playing the sport I adore.”
Trump’s recent order allows federal agencies significant discretion to ensure that organizations receiving federal funds comply with Title IX, based on the Trump administration’s interpretation, which defines “sex” as the gender an individual was assigned at birth.
In response, GLAD along with the ACLU of New Hampshire sought judicial permission to add Trump, several federal departments—including the Department of Justice and Department of Education—as well as U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi and acting Secretary Denise Carter as additional defendants in their lawsuit. An inquiry for a comment was dispatched to the White House Press Office.
U.S. District Judge Landya McCafferty acknowledged the lawyers’ request, indicating that there was “good cause” to modify the current lawsuit. The attorneys contend that Trump’s executive order, in conjunction with another executive directive from January 20 which prohibits federal funds from being utilized to “promote gender ideology,” imposes discrimination against the teenagers and all transgender girls contrary to federal equal protection clauses and their rights under Title IX.
They further argue that these executive orders threaten to revoke federal funding for the teens’ schools if they allow these students to participate in school sports.
