A coalition of school board members and administrators is pressing the organization running the state’s high school sports to adopt policies that prevent biological males from competing in girls’ sports.

The coalition — roughly 60 school leaders penned the April 4 letter — argued that it’s not only a “matter of safety and fairness for our female athletes” but also that prohibiting biological boys from competing in girls’ sports “aligns with recent federal directives that reinforce the protection of women’s sports under Title IX.”

The names of the signatories were not included in the letter, but a list was obtained by Colorado Politics. 

In his first few weeks in office, President Donald Trump issued four executive orders related to transgender people, including a declaration that there are two genders — male and female. The order also directed federal agencies to stop using taxpayer money to promote “gender ideology.”

Additionally, Trump moved to ban transgender people from serving in the military. Crucially for sports, another executive order signed in early February bans transgender women from playing in women’s sports.

The signatories included district and charter leaders from the counties of Pueblo, Mesa, Douglas, and metro Denver. Among them were Lori Thompson, president of the District 49 school board; Anne Ochs, president of the Pueblo District 70 school board; Christy Williams, president of the Douglas County school board; Lauren Nelson of the District 11 school board and Ian Stout, executive director of Loveland Classical Schools. 

In their letter, the leaders said current Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) rules allow transgender athletes to participate in sports based on their gender identity, rather than biological sex.

That policy, they said, “stands in direct conflict” with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, which required the U.S. Department of Education to crack down on educational institutions that allow biological males to compete in girls’ sports and rescind funding from entities that fail to comply.

The Colorado school leaders cited the Trump administration’s actions in this arena, such as pulling funding from the University of Pennsylvania for allowing a biological male to compete in women’s sports, though that student has since graduated. The administration is also investigating San Jose State University and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association over suspected Title IX violations for allegedly allowing males to compete in women’s sports, the leaders said. 

“The implications for CHSAA are unmistakable,” the letter stated. “By maintaining policies that permit boys to compete as girls, CHSSA risks exposing Colorado schools to federal investigations, the potential loss of critical funding, and legal liability under Title IX.”

Critics of allowing transgender women to compete in women sports argue that it’s an issue of fairness — that biological men possess a natural advantages over women in post-pubescent physical attributes, such as a larger heart size and larger lung capacity. 

Supporters said barring the transgender athletes “invites gender policing,” that they do not possess any unfair advantage and that “trans girls are girls.” 

In their letter, the coalition said the demand for rules changes is rooted in a “fundamental commitment” to female athletes, adding that girls’ sports exist to provide equitable opportunities for competition, achievement and personal growth.

The letter asked CHSAA three things:

• Revise its bylaws to prohibit biological males from competing in girls’ sports

• Establish eligibility criteria and “verification processes” to ensure compliance with the new bylaws

• Guide schools on implementing the changes in a way that’s consistent with the executive order

“This is not a request for debate or delay; it is a demand for decisive action,” the letter stated. “Failure to act promptly will not only jeopardize our schools’ standing with federal authorities, but also will betray the promise of equal opportunity that Title IX was designed to uphold for our female athletes.”

According to KOAA News, CHSAA sent an email to member districts on Feb. 10, saying it’s working with a legal team to navigate how to comply with the executive order and state law.

“At this time, the full impact of the Executive Order remains unclear,” the email from CHSAA Commissioner Michael Krueger said. “The directive does not mandate immediate action by CHSAA, the CDE (Colorado Department of Education), or local school districts but instead directs federal agencies to take steps that could lead to changes in funding and oversight.”