LARGEST CALIFORNIA’S SCHOOL DISTRICT BUCKS DEMS, ADOPTS BAN ON TRANS ATHLETES IN GIRLS’ SPORTS

In a bold and controversial move, California’s largest school district has bucked state policy by banning transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports.

On October 6, 2025, the Kern High School District, which serves over 40,000 students, voted 3-2 to restrict girls’ sports to female students only. This decision directly challenges California’s 2013 law, which allows transgender students to participate in school activities, including sports, in alignment with their gender identity.

The resolution, pushed forward by Chino Valley Unified School District Board President Sonja Shaw, cites concerns over protecting opportunities for female athletes. Shaw insisted, “Boys are boys. Girls are girls. God made them beautiful just the way they are.”

This policy has sparked outrage across the state. The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against California’s Department of Education, claiming the state’s law violates Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in education. The Trump administration has threatened to withhold federal education funding unless the policy changes.

Kern High School District now joins 15 other districts in California adopting similar restrictions on transgender athletes, creating a growing divide between local school districts and state policy on transgender rights in education.

As the debate rages on, the question is clear: will local decisions continue to clash with state protections for transgender students?