On Monday, a Republican senator proposed a bill that would forbid transgender students from playing on females’ teams.
In a state that has attempted to establish itself as a champion of transgender rights, the initiative guarantees that the topic will continue to dominate public discourse despite strong opposition in the California Legislature, where Democrats have a supermajority.
According to a statement from Sanchez’s office, the Protect Girls Sports Act, which was introduced by Assembly Member Kate Sanchez, R-Rancho Santa Margarita (Orange County), would mandate that the California Interscholastic Federation and other organizations that oversee high school athletics establish regulations guaranteeing that only those who are assigned female at birth are allowed to participate in female sports.
The bill coincides with a number of pending court cases in California and other states concerning transgender athletes and students.
One member of the San Jose State women’s volleyball team filed a lawsuit to ban transgender women from playing on NCAA women’s sports teams, which has drawn criticism for the team.
Two teammates of a transgender high school cross-country runner filed a lawsuit against Riverside Unified School District in Southern California, alleging that the player had unfairly taken their place at a team event and that telling them to stop wearing T-shirts with transphobic messages was a violation of their right to free speech.
Since the lawsuit was filed, more students are wearing the shirts to school as a result of heightened criticism of the district from Republican leaders and anti-trans activists.
Renee Hill, the superintendent of Riverside Unified School District, has been urged to step down by two additional Republican Assembly members, Leticia Castillo and Bill Essayli.
According to a 2013 California law, schools must provide transgender children with gender-neutral toilets and locker rooms.
The right of schools to permit transgender children to use restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity was maintained by federal appeals courts in Oregon and Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania case was refused review by the Supreme Court in 2019.
As an outspoken opponent of transgender rights, Essayli proposed legislation in 2023 requiring schools to alert parents if a student started to identify as a gender other than the one assigned at birth.
Without a hearing, it passed away. Legislation passed by Governor Gavin Newsom earlier this year essentially accomplishes the opposite: it forbids schools from asking teachers to disclose pupils to their parents without the parents’ permission.
Lawsuits over the matter are still pending, though, and some districts are evading the legislation.
The San Jose State and Riverside lawsuits, along with Sanchez’s bill, show how right-wing attempts to target transgender individuals are concentrating on student-athletes.
Sanchez asserted in a social media video introducing her new law that women are compelled to compete against those who have indisputable biological advantages. Fairness in female athletics is being taken away, according to Sanchez, who called trans athletes “biological males.”
Sanchez told the audience that women’s athletics have always been a place where opportunity, tenacity, and dedication flourish. It’s dangerous and depressing in addition to being unfair.
California is one of 24 states that safeguard transgender students’ rights to play gender-specific sports, according to CalMatters.
It’s unclear how Sanchez’s plan would align with the state education code’s requirements that students use facilities that correspond to their gender identity, regardless of the gender indicated on their records, and take part in sex-segregated school programs and activities, such as athletic teams and competitions.
In a statement, Sanchez said, “I am fully committed to advancing this bill and I am dedicated to protecting girls’ sports.” The form of this policy will be hotly debated, and it may be necessary to amend conflicting legislation.
At a December 19 school district meeting, Daisy Gardner, a mom of an LGBTQ student in Los Angeles, addressed the parents of transgender students in Riverside and read a statement on their behalf.
Gardner said that both they and their children were in hell.
According to a parent of a transgender kid at the Riverside school, the student completely stopped playing sports as a result of her encounters with prejudice.
The parent, who the Chronicle decided to keep nameless for safety reasons and in compliance with its policy on anonymous sources, stated, “It’s just not right for these kids to be going through this.” They denied her the opportunity to take part.
Gardner, the outreach director for Our Schools USA Los Angeles, an organization that supports the election of candidates who oppose conservative policies, said she has observed a change in anti-trans circles from concentrating on parental notification legislation to addressing specific instances of trans student athletes.
A transgender soccer player at Jurupa Valley High School was targeted by a woman on Instagram.
A transgender volleyball player in Half Moon Bay was recently the focus of harassment. According to Gardner, when a transgender player joins a high school team, social media posts are usually made to notify other teams’ families.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.