Florida Republicans’ pressure campaign pushes transgender teen out of Irish dance event

A transgender 17-year-old girl has withdrawn from an Irish dance competition in Orlando after a pressure campaign involving Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, two Republican members of Congress and Concerned Women for America, The Sentinel reported.

The dispute emerged ahead of the North American Irish Dance Championships, which began July 2. On June 24, U.S. Reps. Randy Fine and Greg Steube sent a letter to An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha, known as CLRG, and the Irish Dance Teachers’ Association of North America, or IDTANA, challenging the dancer’s participation.

Fine later wrote on social media, in a post sharing the letter: “Biological males do not belong in girls’ dance.” He added, “Florida law is clear: girls’ categories are for biological females.”

Uthmeier then threatened legal action in a June 26 letter. He said the organizations’ policy allowing dancers to compete in divisions that match their gender identity could violate Florida law.

According to the report, Uthmeier became involved after Maggie McKneely, a Concerned Women for America director and former competitive Irish dancer, contacted his office to complain about what she described as “a boy competing as a girl.”

In his letter, Uthmeier wrote: “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.” He added, “My office will not tolerate these sorts of policies, and will take all necessary steps to safeguard the rights and interests of Florida’s female competitors.”

Concerned Women for America later posted about the teen’s withdrawal, using language that referred to the dancer as a boy. McKneely said the group was grateful that Uthmeier had intervened and pleased that the dancer ultimately chose not to compete.

“It’s a win because the girls didn’t have to compete against a boy in their category,” she said. McKneely added that whether the teen withdrew because of the legal threat or the media attention, “it’s still good he didn’t compete.”

Neither IDTANA nor CLRG has issued a public statement on the latest controversy. Both organizations have previously defended policies allowing dancers to compete in divisions aligned with their gender identity.

The clash is not the first between Concerned Women for America and Irish dance officials over transgender inclusion. After conservative backlash in 2023, when a transgender girl won a competition, IDTANA regional director P.J. McCafferty said allowing transgender dancers was an “established precedent.”

“I am writing this post to remind everyone that we teach all the dancers,” McCafferty wrote. “We advocate for every one of our dancers.”

He added that the organization tries “to be fair to everyone” and that everyone is expected to respect all dancers.

The episode shows how quickly state officials and national political figures can escalate pressure on a local or specialized competition when transgender youth are involved. For LGBTQ communities, especially transgender young people, it underscores how public participation in sports and arts spaces can become a target for political messaging and legal threats.