Newsom Responds to DOJ Lawsuit Over Transgender Athlete Policies
On Wednesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s team shared a post on X, addressing the Department of Justice’s lawsuit against the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Federation of Interscholastic Federation (CIF).
The announcement highlighted that Newsom himself is not named in the lawsuit. “Many have suddenly become legal experts, so let it be clear: the governor is not a party to this lawsuit,” the post stated.
Interestingly, the post did not delve into the ethical implications of allowing biological men to compete in women’s sports. Instead, it defended California’s approach to the ongoing issue, criticizing how the Trump administration attempted to interpret Title IX.
“Both the CDE and CIF operate independently from Newsom’s administration and adhere to established state laws. This legislation was enacted in 2013 under former Governor Jerry Brown, alongside similar measures in 21 other states,” the message continued. “No court has agreed with the Title IX interpretation promoted by the previous administration, and neither the governor nor anyone else can simply change that.”
Following the post, Newsom faced questions about his views on transgender athletes in women’s sports during an event in South Carolina. “I wrestle with fairness in sports,” he acknowledged. “We’ve grappled with this issue over the past few years, and honestly, it’s been challenging.” He further expressed sympathy towards the struggles of the transgender community, criticizing how they’re often talked about by right-leaning voices. “These individuals just want the chance to live their lives,” he remarked.
The CDE and CIF reaffirmed that they are upholding the 2013 law in their statement. The DOJ’s lawsuit seeks to block California’s policies allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports, arguing that these policies create an unfair educational environment for girls and jeopardize their opportunities for recognition, such as awards and scholarships.
According to the lawsuit, “These troubling policies result in harsh realities. Girls are pushed off the podium, miss out on awards, and lose vital recognition that could affect their future.” California’s current stance permits athletes to join sports aligned with their gender identities, with state officials asserting that this does not infringe upon the Equality Protection Clause.
While the CIF chose not to comment on legal matters, the CDE remained silent on the lawsuit. This legal challenge isn’t the first of its kind; the DOJ also filed a similar suit against Maine in April.
