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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Recent discussions in California have highlighted the contentious issue of transgender youth participating in sports that align with their gender identities. Despite national debates on this topic, state lawmakers have opted to maintain current policies that allow transgender kids and teens to compete in sports consistent with their identities.
On Tuesday, the state Assembly’s Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism, led by Democratic legislators, dismissed two proposals from Republican lawmakers after extensive discussion. One bill aimed to restrict participation by students assigned male at birth from joining girls’ sports teams, while the other sought to repeal a 2013 law that permits students to partake in gender-segregated school programs and access facilities congruent with their gender identity. This repeal would have affected K-12 and college students.
The timing of the hearing was notable, occurring just after Transgender Day of Visibility and following comments from Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom that stirred controversy among his party members. He suggested on his podcast that allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports could be seen as unfair.
Democratic Assemblymember Chris Ward, chair of the committee and leader of the legislative LGBTQ+ caucus, argued that the proposed bills represented a wider assault on the rights of transgender youth. He expressed concerns about the potential invasiveness these measures could introduce, particularly for cisgender girls who might face pressure to validate their gender.
“I don’t think anybody should be gender policing women and girls,” Ward stated.
Conversely, Republican Assemblymember Bill Essayli, sponsor of the bill aiming to roll back the 2013 law, framed the discussion within the context of fairness in sports. He emphasized the importance of biological distinctions in athletic competition.
“Biology matters,” he declared. “Sports are one of the places where that reality is most obvious.”
Some student-athletes voiced their support for restrictions, including Riverside high school runner Taylor Starling, who claimed a transgender athlete displaced her from a spot on the varsity cross country team. Starling argued that a ban would contribute to fair treatment for female athletes.
“Why are girls being told that we must sit down and be quiet while boys unfairly get ahead of us in life?” she questioned.
On the other hand, advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, including parents of transgender children, urged lawmakers to champion the rights of trans youth. Cat Johnson, a mother of a transgender middle schooler, highlighted the critical nature of allowing children to use facilities that correspond with their identities.
“The facilities ban really sends the message that she is not welcome as her authentic self,” Johnson remarked about her daughter, deeming such exclusion unacceptable.
Estimates from the Williams Institute at UCLA indicate that there are over 49,000 transgender youths aged 13 to 17 in California. Elana Redfield, the group’s federal policy director, stated that while there are a few widely known instances of trans girls competing in sports, there is little evidence to support claims that their participation is unfair to other competitors and suggested that such laws often stem from bias against transgender individuals.
Across the United States, at least 24 states have enacted laws prohibiting transgender women and girls from competing in designated women’s sports. Judicial actions have temporarily halted some of these bans in states like Arizona, Idaho, and Utah. In contrast, students who challenged bans in New Hampshire and West Virginia have been permitted to compete. Additionally, former President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order that restricts transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.
Some states have also implemented bans on gender-affirming therapies and mandated that schools disclose students’ gender identities to parents, often without the students’ knowledge or consent.
Proponents of the bills frequently referenced Governor Newsom’s recent comments during the debate. Following the discussion, Newsom clarified to The Los Angeles Times that he had given the issue considerable thought over the years and stood firm on his viewpoint, acknowledging that his stance might have caused distress.
“I know that hurt a lot of people. But respectfully, I just disagree with those on the other side of this,” he said.
Although Newsom did not directly endorse the repeal of existing laws, the failure of the proposals in committee means he will not need to express a public position at this time.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon contacted Newsom last week, expressing concern over his podcast remarks and urging him to clarify his views.
“Take a stand on your convictions,” she urged. “Be clear about the harms of gender confusion. Protect female spaces. Do not encourage children to seek permanent medical interventions to their sex. Inform parents.”
The U.S. Department of Education has recently initiated an investigation into California’s educational policy prohibiting schools from requiring staff to notify parents if a student changes their gender identity.
Source
abcnews.go.com