The U.S. Justice Department has intensified its efforts to restrict transgender athletes from competing in school sports across California. This week, they issued a warning to school districts, threatening legal action if they do not bar transgender athletes from competition. This directive comes just days after AB Hernandez, a 16-year-old transgender student from Jurupa Valley High School, won multiple medals at the state track and field championships, despite a social media order from President Trump to prevent her participation.
The warning was sent out on Monday, and it prompted a quick response from California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond. He emphasized that the federal warning holds no legal authority and that school districts must still follow state laws that allow transgender students to compete in sports that align with their gender identity.
This federal pressure follows previous threats from the Trump administration aimed at the California Interscholastic Federation, which governs youth sports and mandates that transgender athletes be included. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, known for challenging LGBTQ+-friendly laws, stated that complying with state rules would violate the U.S. Constitution by depriving cisgender girls of athletic opportunities based on biological sex.
To avoid potential legal consequences, Dhillon instructed each district to certify by June 9 that they would no longer comply with the federation’s rules regarding transgender athletes. She highlighted that her office had identified over 1,600 California schools as violating equal protection laws in girls’ sports.
In response to the federal directive, Thurmond reiterated that California law has not changed since 2013 and continues to protect students from discrimination based on gender identity. He asserted that students should be allowed to participate in athletic teams that correspond with their gender identity.
The controversy surrounding Hernandez’s participation in the championships has drawn significant attention. She achieved gold in both the girls’ triple jump and high jump and earned silver in the long jump. Notably, she shared the podium with cisgender girls in all her events, a point highlighted by LGBTQ+ advocates who argue that the new CIF rules ensure fair competition for all athletes.
The CIF recently adjusted its policies to allow any cisgender girl who was bumped from qualifying for event finals by a transgender athlete to still compete. This rule change aims to address concerns from critics while ensuring that both transgender and cisgender athletes have opportunities to compete.
While many school districts are evaluating the federal directive, some, particularly those with conservative leadership, may be more inclined to comply. The Chino Valley Unified School District recently passed a resolution supporting Title IX and advocating for fairness in girls’ sports, expressing concern over biological advantages in competitive sports.
Hernandez’s mother has voiced her distress over the attacks on her child, urging Trump to reconsider his stance against transgender athletes. She described her daughter as a dedicated and passionate young person who simply wants to enjoy sports and build friendships.
The ongoing debate over transgender athletes in school sports continues to spark strong opinions on both sides, with advocates stressing the importance of inclusion and opponents raising concerns about fairness in competition. As the situation unfolds, the future of transgender athletes in California remains uncertain.