California League and School Districts Sued Over Gender Competition Policies
A lawsuit has been filed against a California sports league along with two school districts, claiming that they require girls to compete in athletic events alongside boys. The complaint, which invokes Title IX, was lodged by Defending Education (DE) and the U.S. Department of Education.
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), Carlsbad Unified School District (CUSD), and Jurupa Unified School District (JUSD) are accused of compelling girls to participate in competitions with boys in middle and high school sports. No immediate responses were received from CIF, JUSD, or CUSD regarding the allegations.
The complaint was reportedly initiated by a parent whose daughters attend CUSD schools, highlighting an instance where her oldest daughter was allegedly required to compete against a boy during a state track championship.
According to the complaint, JUSD has guidelines stating that student athletes should “participate in programs and activities consistent with their gender identity.” The CIF is said to have allowed a trans-identifying boy from JUSD to excel in girls’ track and field championships for two consecutive years.
In discussions about her daughter sharing private facilities with trans-identifying boys, the concerned parent alleges that the principal suggested alternative options, like the nurse’s office, for privacy. Additionally, the principal reportedly mentioned that there was no straightforward way to determine a student’s transgender status, as such information isn’t required to be disclosed.
After raising concerns at a CUSP Board of Trustees meeting about enforcing a 2025 executive order aimed at prohibiting males from accessing female-designated spaces in federally funded institutions, a board representative allegedly stated that the school had no plans to comply until legally mandated to do so.
The complaint asserts that these practices violate Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 as well as the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, which collectively prohibit discrimination based on sex in educational institutions receiving federal funding.
DE criticized CIF, JUSD, and CUSD, claiming that they prioritize the wishes of those identifying as “transgender girls” over the rights of the girls who are the focus of Title IX.
This lawsuit follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming that bans on trans-identifying boys competing in female sports do not infringe upon Title IX or the Equal Protection Clause. Currently, more than two dozen states have enacted restrictions concerning participation in girls’ and women’s sports based on biological sex.
