Latest news with #AssemblyBill89
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
California lawmakers reject bill banning transgender athletes from playing in girls' sports
California lawmakers rejected a bill that would have banned transgender women and girl athletes from participating in girls and women's sports on Tuesday, April 1. Assembly Bill 89, introduced by Assemblymember Kate Sanchez, a Republican who represents the state's 71st assembly district, sought to require that the California Interscholastic Federation prohibit athletes whose sex was assigned male at birth from participating on girls or women's sports teams. The federation governs high school sports in California. The bill failed to pass out of the Assembly's Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee, although Democrats' supermajority in both houses of the state legislature means the bill 'had no chance of passing,' SF Gate reported. 'This year, we've seen a number of bills that are particularly targeting to spotlight, target and repeal the rights of transgender individuals and standards that have been in some place for some time without much notice until recent,' said Assemblymember Christopher M. Ward, committee chair and a Democrat. 'This bill, AB 89, is one of those bills.' However, Sanchez — who said the bill was not a ban — described it as protecting the health and wellbeing of women and girls. 'Let's be clear. It is not about hate. It is not about fear. And it's not right-wing talking points,' Sanchez said. 'This is entirely about fairness, safety and integrity in girls competitive high school athletics. Sanchez pointed toward Gov. Gavin Newsom's recent comments on transgender women and girls competing in women's and girl's sports. During a conversation with conservative activist and media personality Charlie Kirk, Newsom said he thought the issue of fairness on the topic is 'legit,' sparking criticism among party members and LGBTQ+ advocate organizations. Dozens of people demonstrated both support and opposition of the bill during public comment, and some assemblymembers cited concerns over the potential harm this bill would have to transgender children — who face higher rates of suicide and suicidal thoughts, USA TODAY reported — as well as the lack of clear data that suggests transgender female athletes are causing harm, either physically or by taking away opportunities, to their cisgender female peers. The blockage of this bill comes nearly two months after President Donald Trump signed an executive order barring transgender women and girls from playing women's sports, USA TODAY reported. Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@ Assembly Bill 89, introduced by Assemblymember Kate Sanchez, a Republican who represents the state's 71st assembly district, sought to require that the California Interscholastic Federation prohibit athletes whose sex was assigned male at birth from participating on girls or women's sports teams. The federation governs high school sports in California. The bill failed to pass out of the Assembly's Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee, although Democrats' supermajority in both houses of the state legislature means the bill 'had no chance of passing,' SF Gate reported. 'This year, we've seen a number of bills that are particularly targeting to spotlight, target and repeal the rights of transgender individuals and standards that have been in some place for some time without much notice until recent,' said Assemblymember Christopher M. Ward, committee chair and a Democrat. 'This bill, AB 89, is one of those bills.' However, Sanchez — who said the bill was not a ban — described it as protecting the health and wellbeing of girls. 'Let's be clear. It is not about hate. It is not about fear. And it's not right-wing talking points,' Sanchez said. 'This is entirely about fairness, safety and integrity in girls competitive high school athletics. Sanchez pointed toward Gov. Gavin Newsom's recent comments on transgender athletes competing in women's sports while describing those who are in support of the bill. During a conversation with conservative activist and media personality Charlie Kirk, Newsom said he thought the issue of fairness on the topic is 'legit,' sparking criticism among party members and LGBTQ+ advocate organizations. Dozens of people demonstrated both support and opposition of the bill during public comment, and some assemblymembers cited concerns over the potential harm this bill would have to transgender children — who face higher rates of suicide and suicidal thoughts, USA TODAY reported — as well as the lack of clear data that suggests transgender female athletes are causing harm, either physically or by taking away opportunities, to their cisgender female peers. The blockage of this bill comes nearly two months after President Donald Trump signed an executive order barring transgender women and girls from playing women's sports, USA TODAY reported. Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@ This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California bill banning transgender girls from girls' sports fails
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
California legislative committee rejects limits on trans athletes
California lawmakers on Tuesday rejected Republican-sponsored bills to limit trans high school athletes participation in girls' and women's sports, the latest clash in a high-octane debate that continues to divide the nation. Despite hours of passionate testimony, the outcome was never really in question in a California Legislature where Democrats hold a supermajority and Republicans possess little power. The point, for both sides, was the spirited debate that took place in the ornate Capitol hearing room Tuesday morning. Assembly Bill 89, from Assemblymember Kate A. Sanchez (R-Trabuco Canyon), would require the California Interscholastic Federation to prohibit any student whose sex was assigned male at birth from competing on a girls' high school team. Assembly Bill 844, from Assemblymember Bill Essayli (R-Corona) would require students to use locker rooms, bathrooms and other facilities that match their sex assigned at birth. After the bills were introduced, Assemblymember Christopher M. Ward (D-San Diego), who chairs the Assembly's Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism Committee, said he decided to hold the hearing because of Republicans' complaints that their issues were not given an opportunity to be heard in the Democratic-led Legislature. The hearing drew a big crowd of partisans to the state Capital. The conservative California Family Council called it a 'Capital showdown.' By 8:30 a.m. — 30 minutes before the start time — a line snaked along the corridor outside the hearing room, and by 8:45 every seat in the hall was filled, with a raucous overflow crowd outside waiting to speak. Among the crowd were roller derby athletes, volleyball players, track stars, parents, nurses, doctors, church leaders, school board members, teachers and academics. One by one they were allowed into the hearing room to urge lawmakers to vote the bills up or down. About 800,000 of California's 1.76 million high school students participate in school athletics. The CIF, which oversees high school sports in the state, does not keep records on how many of such students are transgender, but experts say the number is small. At the college level, fewer than 10 out of half a million athletes are transgender, according to recent congressional testimony from NCAA officials. Still, the issue of trans athletes in sports has for months been explosive in national politics. Republicans who have seized on the issue portray it as a deeply unfair example of "woke" politics run amok. President Trump cited the issue frequently on the campaign trail last year and in February signed an executive order that would "rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities.' Many on the left, meanwhile, say it affects a minuscule number of athletes. Instead of focusing on a real issue, they say, politicians seized on a hateful and hysterical attack on trans people to advance a larger conservative agenda. Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom, a prominent Democrat and long an outspoken supporter of LGBTQ+ issues, scrambled the debate when he called transgender athletes' participation in women's sports 'deeply unfair' on his podcast. Republicans have been amplifying his comments ever since. When she introduced her bill during the hearing, Sanchez quoted Newsom to illustrate that concerns about trans girls in sports were 'not a fringe issue.' 'Let's be clear. It is not about hate. It is not about fear. And it's not right-wing talking points,' she said. Sanchez, who described herself as a passionate volleyball player in her youth, talked of girls' losing coveted spots on teams, and in some cases suffering injuries during games because of trans athletes unfairly competing against them. 'This is entirely about fairness, safety and integrity,' she said. Sanchez brought with her a high school track athlete, who did not provide her full name, who told the lawmakers that her dreams of completing at higher levels had been quashed because a 'biological male' on her team had beat her out. 'It feels wrong,' she said. 'I don't understand how my hard work, my dedication … can be rendered meaningless.' She was among the scores of speakers who appeared before lawmakers, and when the hours of testimony were done, the elected officials voted along party lines to reject the bills. "You're using our most vulnerable students as a political cudgel," said Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles), pointing to studies that show transgender students are at greater risk of suicide and dropping out of school. He added that trans students have been participating in high school sports for a decade with little fanfare, but only recently has it become an issue Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), who made a surprise appearance to fill in at the hearing for an absent member, said the bills were unnecessary. 'There is no epidemic of transgender kids playing basketball or soccer or any other sport,' he said. "There are more kids right now with measles in Texas than there are transgender athletes in the NCAA. That's the epidemic we should all be worried about.' But Republicans said the issue is one of fairness, with several speakers making the point that girls are suffering as a result of allowing trans athletes on their teams. Republicans also warned that California's support for trans athletes puts the state at risk of losing billions of dollars in federal funds because it conflicts with the president's executive order. 'There is a biological reality,' said Essayli, who pointed to a young track athlete from his district who he said was knocked out of a spot on a top team by a trans athlete. 'It's a question of fairness.' After the hearing, Republican members of the Legislature held a news conference to excoriate Democrats for blocking further debate on two bills that, they said, polls show a majority of California voters agree with. Several also said the Democrats on the committee had just put California's education funding on a collision course with the Trump administration. 'For standing up for common sense we were called Nazis,' said Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City). 'What we are talking about is standing up for young women in the state of California.' Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
California legislative committee rejects limits on trans athletes
SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers on Tuesday rejected Republican-sponsored bills to limit trans high school athletes participation in girls' and women's sports, the latest clash in a high-octane debate that continues to divide the nation. Despite hours of passionate testimony, the outcome was never really in question in a California Legislature where Democrats hold a supermajority and Republicans possess little power. The point, for both sides, was the spirited debate that took place in the ornate Capitol hearing room Tuesday morning. Assembly Bill 89, from Assemblymember Kate A. Sanchez (R-Trabuco Canyon), would require the California Interscholastic Federation to prohibit any student whose sex was assigned male at birth from competing on a girls' high school team. Assembly Bill 844, from Assemblymember Bill Essayli (R-Corona) would require students to use locker rooms, bathrooms and other facilities that match their sex assigned at birth. After the bills were introduced, Assemblymember Christopher M. Ward (D-San Diego), who chairs the Assembly's Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism Committee, said he decided to hold the hearing because of Republicans' complaints that their issues were not given an opportunity to be heard in the Democratic-led Legislature. The hearing drew a big crowd of partisans to the state Capital. The conservative California Family Council called it a 'Capital showdown.' By 8:30 a.m. — 30 minutes before the start time — a line snaked along the corridor outside the hearing room, and by 8:45 every seat in the hall was filled, with a raucous overflow crowd outside waiting to speak. Among the crowd were roller derby athletes, volleyball players, track stars, parents, nurses, doctors, church leaders, school board members, teachers and academics. One by one they were allowed into the hearing room to urge lawmakers to vote the bills up or down. About 800,000 of California's 1.76 million high school students participate in school athletics. The CIF, which oversees high school sports in the state, does not keep records on how many of such students are transgender, but experts say the number is small. At the college level, fewer than 10 out of half a million athletes are transgender, according to recent congressional testimony from NCAA officials. Still, the issue of trans athletes in sports has for months been explosive in national politics. Republicans who have seized on the issue portray it as a deeply unfair example of 'woke' politics run amok. President Trump cited the issue frequently on the campaign trail last year and in February signed an executive order that would 'rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities.' Many on the left, meanwhile, say it affects a minuscule number of athletes. Instead of focusing on a real issue, they say, politicians seized on a hateful and hysterical attack on trans people to advance a larger conservative agenda. Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom, a prominent Democrat and long an outspoken supporter of LGBTQ+ issues, scrambled the debate when he called transgender athletes' participation in women's sports 'deeply unfair' on his podcast. Republicans have been amplifying his comments ever since. When she introduced her bill during the hearing, Sanchez quoted Newsom to illustrate that concerns about trans girls in sports were 'not a fringe issue.' 'Let's be clear. It is not about hate. It is not about fear. And it's not right-wing talking points,' she said. Sanchez, who described herself as a passionate volleyball player in her youth, talked of girls' losing coveted spots on teams, and in some cases suffering injuries during games because of trans athletes unfairly competing against them. 'This is entirely about fairness, safety and integrity,' she said. Sanchez brought with her a high school track athlete, who did not provide her full name, who told the lawmakers that her dreams of completing at higher levels had been quashed because a 'biological male' on her team had beat her out. 'It feels wrong,' she said. 'I don't understand how my hard work, my dedication … can be rendered meaningless.' She was among the scores of speakers who appeared before lawmakers, and when the hours of testimony were done, the elected officials voted along party lines to reject the bills. 'You're using our most vulnerable students as a political cudgel,' said Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles), pointing to studies that show transgender students are at greater risk of suicide and dropping out of school. He added that trans students have been participating in high school sports for a decade with little fanfare, but only recently has it become an issue Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister), who made a surprise appearance to fill in at the hearing for an absent member, said the bills were unnecessary. 'There is no epidemic of transgender kids playing basketball or soccer or any other sport,' he said. 'There are more kids right now with measles in Texas than there are transgender athletes in the NCAA. That's the epidemic we should all be worried about.' But Republicans said the issue is one of fairness, with several speakers making the point that girls are suffering as a result of allowing trans athletes on their teams. Republicans also warned that California's support for trans athletes puts the state at risk of losing billions of dollars in federal funds because it conflicts with the president's executive order. 'There is a biological reality,' said Essayli, who pointed to a young track athlete from his district who he said was knocked out of a spot on a top team by a trans athlete. 'It's a question of fairness.' After the hearing, Republican members of the Legislature held a news conference to excoriate Democrats for blocking further debate on two bills that, they said, polls show a majority of California voters agree with. Several also said the Democrats on the committee had just put California's education funding on a collision course with the Trump administration. 'For standing up for common sense we were called Nazis,' said Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City). 'What we are talking about is standing up for young women in the state of California.'
