California has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over its demand that public high schools certify they will exclude transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports. The state argues that the DOJ has no legal authority to enforce such a demand and asserts that its laws, which allow transgender athletes to compete in sports consistent with their gender identity, are constitutional and do not violate the Equal Protection Clause. The lawsuit seeks to block the DOJ’s certification requirement, which was issued by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhill, and marks the latest in a series of legal battles over transgender athlete participation in sports.
California defended its laws, which allow students to participate in sports