Female athletes and parents in California are protesting the state’s policies allowing transgender students to compete in girls’ sports, as the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) faces mounting legal challenges. A ‘Save Girls Sports’ rally erupted during the CIF meeting, with participants demonstrating outside the event and criticizing the policies as inequitable. The controversy has intensified with the Department of Justice’s investigation into the state’s approach, which has raised questions about compliance with Title IX.
Female athletes, like Taylor Starling, have spoken out about the impact of these policies on their opportunities and mental health, with their lawsuit against the Riverside Unified School District bringing national attention. The state’s position, which allows athletes to compete ‘consistent with their gender identity,’ is defended as compliant with the Fourteenth Amendment. However, the debate reflects a broader societal divide over gender inclusion in sports and the role of state and federal authorities in shaping such policies.
During the CIF meeting, loud protesters, led by the California Family Council, arrived with t-shirts, signs, and even a press conference podium, demonstrating their opposition. Martin Luther King High School students Taylor Starling and Kaitlyn Slavin, who have filed a lawsuit against the Riverside Unified School District over a situation involving a trans student at their school, headlined the athlete speakers. Starling shared her story of losing her varsity spot on the cross-country team to the trans athlete, while having her ‘Save Girls Sports’ t-shirts compared to swastikas.
Slavin spoke in support of her teammate Starling, highlighting the negative domino effect on Taylor’s mental health and the impact on her family. California filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department earlier this month after officials demanded that the state’s public high schools confirm they will bar transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports. The state argued that the Justice Department had ‘no right to make such a demand,’ citing its lack of authority to enforce such a certification letter.
The DOJ’s investigation into the CIF for its state policies was announced in late May, leading up to the girls’ track and field state championship that saw trans athlete AB Hernandez competing in several events in the female category. The DOJ’s announcement of that investigation cited Starling and Slavin’s lawsuit, underscoring the legal and ethical complexities surrounding the issue. As the conflict intensifies, the debate over equity and inclusion in sports continues to shape public discourse and policy-making at both the state and federal levels.