Florida Officials Pressure Irish-Dance Bodies Over Trans Teen’s Withdrawal

In early July 2026 a transgender teenage girl slated for the girls’ 17-and-under division at the North American Irish Dance Championships in Orlando withdrew before the competition. The decision followed a coordinated campaign by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, U.S. Representatives Randy Fine and Greg Steube, and the conservative group Concerned Women for America. Both the Irish Dance Teachers’ Association of North America (IDTANA) and the Dublin-based governing body An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG) have not issued public comments.

The Advocate

Fine and Steube sent a letter on June 24 to IDTANA and CLRG, citing Florida’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which mandates that public school athletic teams be organized by biological sex. Uthmeier followed with a four-page letter on June 26 warning that the organizations’ policy of allowing competitors to enter divisions matching their gender identity could violate that law. The law applies to public K-12 schools, colleges and universities, leaving its relevance to a private, international dance event unclear.

Orlando Sentinel

IDTANA regional director P.J. McCafferty reiterated the organization’s longstanding stance that trans dancers may compete in divisions aligning with their gender identity, describing it as “an established precedent.” The agencies involved have not provided further remarks, and attempts by the Orlando Sentinel to contact them went unanswered.

The Advocate

Equality Florida’s public-policy manager Quinn Diaz condemned the episode, emphasizing that no youth should become “the center of a political fight simply because they want to participate in the activities they love.” Advocates highlighted the broader impact on Florida’s reputation as an inclusive destination for visitors and events.

Orlando Sentinel

• “Biological males do not belong in girls’ dance,” — Randy Fine, U.S. Representative

The Advocate

• “Your policy of forcing women to compete against biological men who identify as women in your women’s categories deprives women of the full and equal enjoyment of fair competition…” — James Uthmeier, Florida Attorney General

Orlando Sentinel

• “It’s a win because the girls didn’t have to compete against a boy in their category, and whether he withdrew because of the threat of legal action against the organizations or because of the media attention, it’s still good he didn’t compete,” — Maggie McKneely, Concerned Women for America director

The Advocate

• “No young person should become the center of a political fight simply because they want to participate in the activities they love,” — Quinn Diaz, Equality Florida

Orlando Sentinel

• “We advocate for every one of our dancers. We do our very best to be fair to everyone. You are expected to respect all the dancers.” — P.J. McCafferty, IDTANA regional director

The Advocate