On Tuesday, the Kern County Board of Education in California passed a resolution aimed at barring biological males from participating in girls’ sports, despite state laws that contradict this move. This event marks yet another instance of a Democratic-leaning educational board taking a stand on the issue.
Last year, California was at the center of debates surrounding transgender athletes in women’s high school and collegiate sports, a situation heavily scrutinized during President Donald Trump’s administration, particularly regarding Title IX enforcement.
Mary Little, the president of the Kern County Board of Education, stated that the board’s unanimous 6-0 vote represents a legitimate challenge to Governor Gavin Newsom’s adherence to federal law. She mentioned, “We discussed the governor’s approach to federal regulations and concluded that he hasn’t upheld the original intent of Title IX. These resolutions aim to prioritize federal laws over what we see as illegal state statutes.”
Interestingly, Little emphasized that her board hasn’t faced any backlash from the state government following this resolution.
Lori Cisneros, a trustee with decades of teaching experience, initiated the proposal to the board. “Our goal is to safeguard girls in sports while promoting fairness,” she explained. “I’m frustrated with the governor’s disregard for federal law regarding Title IX.”
Cisneros added that many girls and their families feel uneasy about competing against biological males. She noted the physical disparities, saying that, simply put, biological males are built differently.
The U.S. Department of Justice is currently pursuing legal action against the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation due to policies permitting men to compete in women’s sports statewide.
Little voiced her concerns about financial implications, claiming, “The governor’s illegal actions are detrimental to taxpayers.”
If she had the opportunity to address Newsom directly, she would urge him to “adhere to federal laws and Title IX.”
In response to the resolution, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon praised the Kern County Board’s decision, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing women and girls in sports.
Several incidents have stirred controversy within California’s school system regarding male participation in women’s sports. One notable case involved a transgender athlete who earned a varsity spot over female competitors at Martin Luther King High School, prompting a female athlete, Taylor Sterling, to file a lawsuit against the school district.
Little remembered this incident, expressing her discontent: “It’s disappointing. A biological male competing against women just doesn’t feel right.”
She firmly believes that parents should have the right to protect their daughters from competing with biological males, labeling such placements a “discriminatory practice.”
According to Little, “Parents have constitutional rights to ensure their daughters aren’t subjected to such practices. We recognize the innate biological differences that exist.”
During the recent board meeting, eight speakers voiced their support for protecting women’s sports and shared concerns about fairness. Little welcomed the diverse opinions, acknowledging, “I want to listen to everyone, even if we don’t see eye to eye.”
She also encouraged other school boards to adopt similar resolutions in compliance with Title IX. When asked if she would promote this idea, she confidently responded, “Absolutely! We need to stand up for students, particularly girls in sports and other sensitive areas like locker rooms.”
Newsom has made statements indicating that the California Department of Education and CIF follow earlier state laws, yet reiterated his concerns about fairness in women’s sports.
His comments reflect a struggle to find common ground; he expressed that addressing fairness issues has been challenging. “While I think it’s unfair, I also believe it’s unjust to disrespect the transgender community. They deserve to live their lives,” he remarked.
According to a bipartisan survey, many Californians, including a significant majority of parents, oppose allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports. The data revealed that around 65% of adults support having trans athletes compete according to their assigned gender at birth rather than their identified gender.
