State lawmakers in California weigh two bills that would prohibit trans kids from playing on gender-aligned sports teams.
A bill mandating the California Interscholastic Federation to prohibit students assigned male at birth from girls’ school sports teams was blocked by lawmakers.
The bill’s author, Republican Assemblymember Kate Sanchez, argued that the legislation was about maintaining fairness.
Democratic Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva stated she would support research on transgender athletes in sports but opposed the proposed bans, calling them an attack on transgender youth.
Republican-backed bills drew a large turnout to the state Assembly’s Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism hearing, with attendees filling the room and lining up outside to testify. Among those scheduled to speak in favor of the ban are conservative commentator Matt Walsh and a student-athlete who alleges a trans runner took her varsity spot.
Before the hearing, Democratic Assemblymember Chris Ward, who chairs the committee and leads the legislative LGBTQ+ caucus, stated his hope that the discussion would allow both sides to share their perspectives in a balanced and rational manner.
An investigation by the U.S. Department of Education into the state education department was announced last week, focusing on a law that bans school districts from requiring teachers and staff to disclose a student’s gender identity change to parents.
