Two California schools, governed by Democrats, are withdrawing from the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) due to a policy that prevents transgender men from competing on women’s sports teams.
In the fall of 2025, Northern Staho and Truckee schools will part ways with the NIAA after voting to prohibit men from participating in girls’ sports. Reports indicate that Southernhole High School remains a member of the NIAA for the time being.
The Truckee football program, known as the Warriors, has seen considerable success, winning 14 state championships while part of the NIAA, including clinching the Class 3A state title in each of the last three seasons.
The decision to leave the association arises from concerns over California law that prohibits discrimination based on “gender identity.” This term is sometimes viewed as a contested notion suggesting that gender can differ from biological sex.
Truckee and North Tahoe have opted to join the Inter-California Governance Federation (CIF), a shift currently under scrutiny by the Department of Education following the public announcement of a Presidential Order aimed at keeping male athletes identifying as transgender out of women’s sports.
The Truckee Tahoe Unified School District informed parents about this decision in a letter, emphasizing that it was not made lightly.
The letter stated, “The recent policy changes from the NIAA about eligibility based on biological sex directly conflict with California law, such as AB 1955, which safeguards students’ rights to privacy and protects against discrimination.”
Looking forward, the focus is on maintaining robust and competitive opportunities for student-athletes within the CIF, acknowledging that this transition may raise questions.
According to reports, the NIAA implemented the ban on men in women’s sports in April.
