Justice Dept. Ratchets Up Threats Over Trans Athletes in California
Introduction to the Issue
The U.S. Justice Department has increased its efforts to block transgender athletes from competing in school sports in California. In a warning sent to school districts on Monday, the department stated that districts will face legal trouble if they don’t bar transgender athletes from competition within days. This move follows similar threats by the Trump administration to the state and the California Interscholastic Federation, which governs youth sports and requires transgender athletes to be allowed to compete.
Background on the Threats
The new warning comes after AB Hernandez, a 16-year-old transgender junior from Jurupa Valley High School, won multiple medals at the state high school track and field championships on Saturday. This was despite a directive from President Trump that she not be allowed to compete. Assistant Atty. Gen. Harmeet Dhillon, a conservative California lawyer, wrote in a Monday letter to school districts that continuing to comply with CIF rules allowing transgender athletes to compete would deprive girls of athletic opportunities and benefits based solely on their biological sex, in violation of the U.S. Constitution.
Requirements for School Districts
To avoid legal liability for such violations, Dhillon wrote, each district must certify in writing by June 9 that it is no longer complying with the federation’s rules and barring transgender athletes from competition. Dhillon said on the social media platform X that her office put "1600+ California schools on blast for violating equal protection in girls’ sports." The letter made no mention of the CIF’s rule change last week, which allowed any cisgender girl bumped from qualifying for event finals by a transgender athlete to compete anyway.
Reactions to the Threats
LGBTQ+ advocates criticized Dhillon’s letter, calling it the latest proof that the Trump administration is not actually concerned with protecting cisgender athletes but with targeting transgender kids to score political points. Shannon Minter, vice president of legal at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, helped draft the interscholastic federation’s original rules allowing transgender athletes to compete and supports the new rule, which he said ensures that both transgender and cisgender athletes get to compete.
Impact on Transgender Athletes
At last weekend’s meet, Hernandez’s competing did not push any cisgender girls out of competition. Hernandez took gold in both the girls’ triple jump and girls’ high jump and placed second in the girls’ long jump, but wasn’t alone in any of those spots. The new rule addressed concerns people had about taking opportunities away from non-transgender girls and makes sure that cannot happen.
Support for the Directive
Critics of transgender youth participating in sports, meanwhile, cheered Dhillon’s letter as a major victory. Sophia Lorey, outreach director for the conservative California Family Council, said it was "huge." Lorey was kicked out of the state championships Saturday after handing out fliers urging people to sign a petition calling on the interscholastic federation to change its policies.
Conclusion
The Justice Department’s latest move to block transgender athletes from competing in school sports in California has sparked controversy and debate. While some see it as a necessary step to protect the rights of cisgender athletes, others view it as a discriminatory attack on transgender students. The issue is likely to continue to be a point of contention in the coming days and weeks.
FAQs
Q: What is the Justice Department’s stance on transgender athletes in California?
A: The Justice Department has warned school districts in California that they will face legal trouble if they don’t bar transgender athletes from competition within days.
Q: What prompted the Justice Department’s warning?
A: The warning comes after AB Hernandez, a 16-year-old transgender junior, won multiple medals at the state high school track and field championships despite a directive from President Trump that she not be allowed to compete.
Q: What do LGBTQ+ advocates say about the Justice Department’s warning?
A: LGBTQ+ advocates criticize the warning, saying it’s an attack on transgender kids and not actually about protecting cisgender athletes.
Q: How have some school districts reacted to the warning?
A: At least a handful of California school districts with conservative elected leaders would be eager to comply with the new directive, with some already filing Title IX complaints against the state and the interscholastic federation.
