Lake County Gazette

Illinois State Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) said Democrats are pushing an agenda that disregards biological differences, puts girls in uncomfortable and vulnerable situations, and falsely calls it progress. Niemerg made his comments in a March 18 social media post on X.

“Folks, a boy shouldn’t be changing in a girls’ locker room. Just like they shouldn’t be playing in girls’ sports. It’s common sense,” Rep. Niemerg said. “God made boys boys and girls girls. It’s that simple. But Democrats refuse to recognize that. Instead, they’re pushing an agenda that puts our daughters in vulnerable and uncomfortable situations—and calling it progress. It’s not. It’s wrong.”

Niemerg's remarks came in reaction to news about a local controversy involving a Deerfield mother, Nicole Georgas, and her daughter, who were caught in a dispute with school officials over privacy in locker rooms. As previously reported by the Lake County Gazette, Georgas claims that her daughter and other female students were forced to change in front of a biological male student in their locker room, a situation she described as both invasive and inappropriate.

Screenshot of Niemerg's Mar. 18 post on X. | Adam Niemerg

The girls, uncomfortable with the male student’s presence, decided to skip changing for gym class. The next day, Assistant Principal Cathy Van Treese reportedly pulled the girls aside for questioning, and later that day, Van Treese, Assistant Superintendent Joanna Ford, and multiple teachers entered the locker room, forcing the girls to change into their uniforms. The transgender student was reportedly allowed to remain in the locker room while the girls changed.

“Folks, these are middle school girls. These educators at Shepherd Middle School are charged with protecting kids. They failed miserably,” Niemerg said on the House floor. “The seriousness of this incident cannot be understated. What happened at Shepherd Middle School is tantamount to sexual assault and instead of stopping the insanity, the people in charge were enabling it.”

Georgas has filed a civil rights complaint with the Department of Education, claiming that the district’s actions violate Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs and activities.

Adam M. Niemerg is a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 102nd District since January 11, 2023, according to his Ballotpedia page. Born in Teutopolis, Illinois, he is the eldest of five children. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Eastern Illinois University and worked as a senior claims adjuster for Country Financial for 12 years. Niemerg resides in rural Dieterich, Illinois, with his wife, Trina, and their two children.