California Governor Gavin Newsom at the Vogue World: Hollywood Announcement at Chateau Marmont on March 26, 2025 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)
Sacramento, California – California lawmakers are set to debate two bills on Tuesday that would prevent transgender students from participating in sports teams consistent with their gender identity. The proposed legislation marks a sharp shift from the state’s existing protections for transgender athletes and has sparked intense debate on both sides of the issue.
The first bill seeks to overturn a 2013 California law that allows students to participate on sex-segregated sports teams aligning with their gender identity, regardless of what is listed on their school records. The second bill would require the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) to implement a rule barring transgender girls—those assigned male at birth—from playing on female school sports teams.
The Republican-backed proposals are expected to draw a significant crowd at the state Assembly’s Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism hearing. Conservative commentator Matt Walsh and a high school athlete who claims she lost a varsity team spot to a transgender competitor are scheduled to testify in support of the bills.
The hearing falls just one day after Transgender Day of Visibility and comes amid growing national debate over the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports. The issue has gained renewed attention in California following recent comments by Governor Gavin Newsom. Speaking on his podcast, Newsom acknowledged concerns about fairness in women’s sports, a statement that surprised and frustrated many within his own Democratic Party.
Newsom has not formally endorsed either bill, nor has he signaled that he would sign them into law. However, his remarks have intensified pressure from Republicans and conservative groups urging him to back the legislation.
The proposed bans are part of a broader national movement to restrict transgender rights. At least 24 states have already passed laws prohibiting transgender girls and women from competing in certain female sports categories. Some of these bans have faced legal challenges, with courts temporarily blocking restrictions in Arizona, Idaho, and Utah. In contrast, legal rulings in states like New Hampshire and West Virginia have allowed transgender students to continue competing.
On the federal level, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month aiming to prevent transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports, further intensifying the political battle over the issue.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon has also weighed in on California’s proposed bans, sending a letter to Newsom last week asking him to clarify his stance. She urged him to support legislation restricting transgender athletes’ participation, arguing that gender-affirming policies harm young women’s opportunities in sports.
Meanwhile, California’s Democratic leaders, including LGBTQ+ caucus chair Assemblymember Chris Ward, have criticized the proposed bills as unnecessary and divisive. Ward expressed hope that after Tuesday’s hearing, the legislature could refocus on other pressing concerns like California’s rising cost of living.
The U.S. Department of Education has also entered the fray, launching an investigation into California’s ban on school districts requiring teachers to disclose students’ gender identity changes to parents. The probe adds another layer of controversy to an already heated debate.
Governor Newsom continues to navigate the political firestorm, defending his support for transgender rights while acknowledging fairness concerns in women’s sports. His remarks have drawn backlash from progressive allies, who accuse him of wavering on his long-standing advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. However, Newsom maintains that his views are not politically motivated, stating that he has been privately grappling with the issue for years.
As California lawmakers prepare to vote, the outcome could have significant implications for transgender athletes in the state and beyond. With emotions running high and national figures weighing in, Tuesday’s hearing is expected to be a flashpoint in the ongoing cultural and political debate over transgender rights in sports.
