California rejects bills to ban trans athletes from girls’ sports
California lawmakers recently rejected two bills aimed at banning transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports, titled AB 89 adn AB 844. The proposed legislation sought to prevent athletes assigned male at birth from competing in female sports at all educational levels, reversing the current state policy that allows transgender individuals to compete according to their gender identity. The bills were discussed in the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Commitee, where both supporters and opponents expressed their views. Proponents, including Republican Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez, argued that allowing biological males in girls’ sports could jeopardize opportunities for female athletes, such as athletic scholarships. Conversely, Democratic Assemblyman Chris Ward criticized the bills as discriminatory and harmful to transgender youth, asserting that gender should not be policed in sports. Ultimately, both bills failed to pass, receiving votes against them (7-2 for AB 89 and 6-2 for AB 844), and were referred back to the Committee on Education. the debate reflects ongoing discussions nationwide regarding transgender rights and participation in sports, influenced by recent federal actions like President TrumpS executive order regarding gender and sports participation.
California lawmakers reject legislation to ban transgender athletes from girls’ sports
Lawmakers in the California State Assembly rejected legislation Tuesday that would bar transgender athletes from participating in female sports.
The bills, AB 89 and AB 844, would have banned athletes born male from taking part in girls’ and women’s school sports and reversed existing state law permitting transgender people to compete in those sports from the elementary to college levels, according to a report.
Both pieces of legislation were debated in the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee, and it was the first time the issue of biological males competing against girls was presented since Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) called the action “deeply unfair.”
Supporters and opponents of the bills filled the hearing, including Daily Wire commentator Matt Walsh and LGBT groups, according to a report.
AB 89, titled “Interscholastic sports: gender equity,” was the first to be heard. Republican Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez, the bill’s author, called attention to Newsom’s recent comments and asked how people in the room would feel if their daughters or nieces lost an athletic scholarship to a biological male.
“Notwithstanding any other law, the California Interscholastic Federation shall amend its constitution, bylaws, and policies to prohibit a pupil whose sex was assigned male at birth from participating on a girls’ interscholastic sports team,” AB 89 reads.
Democratic Assemblyman Chris Ward, the committee chairman and leader of the LGBT caucus, decried both pieces of legislation as attacks on transgender youth.
“I don’t think anybody should be gender-policing women and girls,” Ward said.
Many LGBT support groups echoed Ward’s sentiment.
“AB 89 is part of a nationwide, coordinated effort to sow fear and insecurity about transgender people and chip away at hard-fought civil rights protections, and California must stand firmly against it,” the American Civil Liberties Union California Action wrote opposing the bill.
AB 89 did not pass after a 7-2 vote in favor of the nays and was rereferred to the Committee on Education.
AB 844, titled “Educational equity: sex-segregated school and athletic programs and activities: use of facilities,” would have reversed California policy that allows student-athletes to participate on athletic teams that correspond to their “gender identity.”
“This bill would require that a pupil’s participation in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use of facilities, including bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, and overnight accommodations instead be based upon the pupil’s sex, as defined,” the legislation reads.
AB 844 failed to pass following a 6-2 vote in favor of the nays with one abstention and was rereferred to the Committee on Education.
NEVADA REVERSES POLICY ALLOWING BIOLOGICAL MALES IN WOMEN’S SPORTS AFTER TRUMP TRANS ATHLETES ORDER
The California State Assembly’s debate on transgender athletes arrives following President Donald Trump’s February executive order titled “Keeping Men Out Of Women’s Sports.”
Trump’s executive order prohibits schools from receiving federal funds if they permit athletes to play in sports corresponding to the opposite biological sex.
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