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The Department of Education under President Donald Trump is moving forward with an investigation into California’s public school athletic association, known as the California Interscholastic Federation. This inquiry focuses on the CIF’s noncompliance with an executive order aimed at prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports.
The California Family Council has expressed strong support for the Department of Education’s decision to initiate a Title IX investigation related to the CIF’s actions. This administration’s move has been met with approval from those advocating for the rights of female athletes.
In a statement, the California Family Council emphasized that the investigation aims to hold the CIF accountable for its decisions. The council highlighted the need for fairness and safety in women’s athletics, arguing that the CIF has ignored the pressing concerns raised by female athletes, their parents, and coaches.
The statement reads, “For too long, CIF has turned a blind eye to the concerns of female athletes, parents and coaches, prioritizing radical gender ideology over fairness, safety and the integrity of women’s athletics. This investigation is a crucial step toward restoring justice in high school sports.”
CFC Outreach Director Sophia Lorey expressed her emotional response to the news, stating that the intervention from the Trump administration brought her “tears of joy.”
“As a four-year CIF varsity athlete and a three-year captain, I have been fighting for all girls to have the same athletic opportunities I had,” Lorey said. She added, “CIF’s policies have undermined decades of hard-fought victories for female athletes, and it’s time for them to answer for the harm they’ve caused. CIF has ignored these injustices for too long, and we hope this investigation will finally force them to put the safety and fairness of girls over the feelings of confused boys.”
Lorey has been an outspoken advocate for girls affected by transgender athlete participation over the past three years. Her activism gained particular prominence during a national controversy at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, California. The issue arose when a transgender athlete secured a varsity spot, displacing a female runner in the cross-country team.
In a response to what they viewed as an injustice, Taylor Starling, the affected female athlete, along with her teammate Kaitlyn Slavin, took a stand by creating T-shirts stating, “Save Girls Sports.” They wore these shirts to school but faced backlash from school administrators who allegedly scolded them for their protest.
Starling’s father, Ryan Starling, expressed profound gratitude for the federal investigation into California’s failure to adhere to Trump’s executive directive.
“Our family can’t thank President Trump enough. We are so excited to see common sense prevailing. This has been a long-fought battle for so many people on so many fronts. The battle is not over in the state of California, but each day we are moving a step closer because of so many courageous people like Taylor and Kaitlyn,” Ryan Starling shared in a statement.
School administrators within the CIF’s jurisdiction are also welcoming the Department of Education’s investigation. Sonja Shaw, President of the Chino Unified School Board, articulated her support by calling for accountability for institutions that have allowed transgender athletes in girls’ sports.
As a mother and advocate, Shaw noted, “I have seen firsthand the devastating impact of these policies. Girls are being pushed aside, their safety is compromised and their opportunities are being stolen.”
She further proclaimed that while the investigation marks an important step towards equity, decisive actions are necessary. “CIF — and any entity that violates Title IX — must face consequences, including the withdrawal of funding,” Shaw insisted. “We warned you, CIF. Now, face the consequences.”
Amber French, a competitive swimmer at California Baptist University, voiced her concerns regarding the CIF’s policies on transgender athletes. She warned that these policies could deprive biological female athletes of college recruitment opportunities and threaten their safety.
“If you allow males to compete in female sports, less females will have the opportunity to go to CIF and swim in front of college coaches to get recruited,” French claimed. “Allowing males who do not want to compete against their sex compete in female races takes away from all the hard-working female athletes. There are separate categories for a reason. This investigation is the first step to protect the integrity, safety and opportunities of female sports.”
The CIF confirmed that it has received notification about the impending investigation but stated it cannot comment on ongoing investigations.
Despite the CIF’s stance, the Department of Education will also investigate Minnesota’s high school athletics association for not complying with the executive order regarding transgender athletes. Other entities under scrutiny include San Jose State University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, each facing separate allegations linked to transgender athlete participation.
A Path Forward
The ongoing discourse surrounding transgender athletes in female sports continues to elicit strong emotions and advocacy from various stakeholders. As the investigations unfold, many hope for clearer guidelines and equitable solutions that prioritize the rights and safety of all athletes involved.
In the coming months, the outcomes of these investigations may set precedents for future policies governing athlete participation in high school sports across the nation. The voices of concerned families, athletes, and advocates will likely play a critical role in shaping these discussions as the search for balance between fairness and inclusion continues.
