The situation surrounding trans athletes in California’s high school sports is becoming increasingly tense. At a recent meeting of the Lucia Mar Unified School District Board of Education, student Audrey Van Harweg shared her unusual solution to avoid discomfort: she now changes in her car before track practice.
“I really disagree with what’s happening in the girls’ locker room and on the girls’ track teams. I feel much safer changing in my car,” she explained.
Van Harweg isn’t alone in her feelings. Another junior, Celestid, had previously brought up a similar concern regarding her experiences in the locker room. She described feeling traumatized after having to change in front of a biological male trans athlete.
“When I went to the women’s locker room, I saw biological men around. It wasn’t just me, but other girls were undressing too. It was honestly a traumatic experience,” she recounted.
During these discussions, numerous parents voiced their opposition to the inclusion of trans athletes, while others defended the trans community and advocated for inclusivity. Interestingly, there was a blend of opinions on both sides, making for quite a lively conversation.
One trans athlete shared their journey, recalling their fear when they first joined the women’s team. “At first, I was terrified and felt completely alone. I was worried that my teammates wouldn’t accept me. I even sat alone on the wet ground at my first meet,” they remembered.
Despite the struggle, they felt misunderstood. “I couldn’t even stay longer than a few minutes in the locker room before feeling like a target. I’m not a predator; I’m a victim in this situation,” they stated.
Riley Gaines, a women’s rights advocate and former NCAA swimmer, has also weighed in, viewing trans athletes as victims of the larger cultural debate. “They’ve been fed a harmful narrative about their identity. It’s a troubling message we’re communicating to everyone,” she said, reflecting on the impact of the current ideological movement.
California has had policies allowing trans athletes to compete in women’s sports since 2014, and its high school sports league, CIF, notably rejected a federal push to exclude trans women. Currently, the CIF is looking into potential Title IX violations regarding these policies.
Recently, two GOP-supported bills aimed at reversing the inclusion of trans athletes in women’s sports did not pass, with Democrats voting against them. This ongoing debate underscores a complex and sensitive issue, with passionate voices on both sides continuing to shape the conversation.
