Latest news with #SouthernSectionFinal
New York Post
09-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Trump admin sues California after civil rights probe faulted state for ‘allowing males in girls' sports'
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration sued California Wednesday after a Department of Education probe found the state had discriminated against women by 'allowing males in girls' sports and intimate spaces.' The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division alleged that the California Department of Education and California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) violated Title IX and forced girls to be 'displaced from podiums, denied awards, and miss out on critical visibility for scholarships and recognition,' according to the complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court. 'This discrimination is not only illegal and unfair but also demeaning, signaling to girls that their opportunities and achievements are secondary to accommodating boys,' the filing stated. Advertisement 'It erodes the integrity of girls' sports, diminishes their competitive experience, and undermines the very purpose of Title IX: to provide equal access to educational benefits, including interscholastic athletics.' The complaint demanded a court order barring the policies, compensation for 'female athletes who have been denied equal athletic opportunities … including correcting past athletics records' and a requirement that California turn in 'regular compliance reports' for at least the next five years. 6 The DOJ's complaint noted that California's compliance was necessary given that its $44.3 billion in fiscal year 2025 funding received from the federal government was conditioned on its compliance with Title IX. Getty Images Advertisement The DOJ's complaint noted that California's compliance was necessary since the $44.3 billion in federal funding the state received this fiscal year was conditioned upon compliance with Title IX. The 1972 law mandates equal opportunities regardless of sex in schools receiving federal funds. CIF receives some of its money from the state's Education Department. The suit comes after transgender athlete Lia Thomas was stripped of University of Pennsylvania swimming titles after the Ivy League school bowed to pressure from the Trump administration. 6 Image of Sports/Newscom via ZUMA Advertisement Penn also agreed to issue formal apologies to every biological female competitor who lost out to a transgender competitor, following an Education Department probe of the university. A similar investigation led to CIF being ordered by July 7 to 'restore to female athletes all individual records, titles, and awards misappropriated by male athletes competing in female competitions' — or face 'imminent enforcement action.' Katie McGuinness, a female long jumper, had placed second against a trans athlete at the CIF's Southern Section Final in May, before the findings of the investigation were announced. 6 Katie McGuinness, a California female long jumper, had placed second against a trans athlete at the CIF's Southern Section Final in May. MediaNews Group via Getty Images Advertisement The feds, upon finishing their probe also asked California's Education Department to 'send a personalized letter apologizing on behalf of the state of California for allowing [McGuinness'] educational experience to be marred by sex discrimination.' CIF governs more than 750,000 student-athletes in grades 9 through 12, per the DOJ. Nearly 6 million K-12 athletes compete for titles in the Golden State, fewer than 10 of whom are transgender, a state official previously noted. 6 President Trump having signed an executive order barring biological males from competing in women's sports and threatened to pull federal funding from states that don't comply. AP California is one of more than 20 states that allows athletes to compete in sports that comport with their chosen 'gender identity' — despite President Trump having signed an executive order in February barring the policy and threatening to pull federal funding to those states that persisted. 'The Governor of California has previously admitted that it is 'deeply unfair' to force women and girls to compete with men and boys in competitive sports,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. 'But not only is it 'deeply unfair,' it is also illegal under federal law. This Department of Justice will continue its fight to protect equal opportunities for women and girls in sports.' 6 'My position is that I don't think it's fair,' California Gov. Gavin Newsom admitted Tuesday, 'but I also think it's demeaning to talk down to people, and to belittle the trans community.' AP Advertisement Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom had acknowledged the 'issue of fairness' but stopped short of calling for a ban on transgender athletes participating in women's sports during a debate with Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on his 'This is Gavin Newsom' podcast in March. During a visit to the early primary state of South Carolina Tuesday, the California governor admitted that he 'struggled with the issue of fairness when it came to sports.' 'We tried to figure that out a couple of years ago, and we were unsuccessful, and we struggled with that recently,' Newsom said at the time. 6 Most Americans — and as many as 69% of Democrats — support sex-segregated sports participation, a New York Times poll found in January. AFP via Getty Images Advertisement 'My position is that I don't think it's fair, but I also think it's demeaning to talk down to people, and to belittle the trans community. And I don't like the way the right wing talks about the trans community. These people just want to survive.' Most Americans — including up to 69% of Democrats — support sex-segregated sports participation, a New York Times poll found in January. Studies have also found that transgender female athletes maintain a competitive advantage over their biological female peers even after undergoing hormone therapy. Advertisement 'The CIF does not comment on legal matters,' a rep for the athletic governing body said in a statement. Newsom's office and the California Department of Education did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Sky News AU
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
'Can't stand for this': California girls' track athlete opens up on losing first place title to trans competitor
A high school track meet became the latest flashpoint in the fight against boys participating in girls' sports after multiple female competitors fell shy of first place to a biologically male trans athlete. A high school track meet in Southern California became the latest flashpoint in the state's ongoing conflict with President Donald Trump's administration over trans athletes in girls' sports. There, multiple girls' competitors fell shy of first place to a biologically male trans athlete. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Final on Saturday saw the trans athlete take first place in the triple jump and long jump. The second-place finisher in the long jump was Katie McGuinness of La Canada High School. McGuinness recounted the experience of losing to the trans athlete in an interview on Fox News' "America Reports." "I remember thinking to myself, 'OK, I need to get a big jump,'" McGuinness said. "I ran down the runway and I landed and I watched them measure my mark, and it was 18.9," she said. "And I just remember thinking that there was nothing else that I could do. That was it. And I was honestly very discouraged, and I'm a high school senior and winning CIF has always been a goal of mine, and I wasn't able to compete with someone who was genetically different than me." McGuinness made her overall stance on the issue clear. "There are just certain genetic advantages that biological males have that biological girls don't," she said. "Frankly, I just can't stand for that." The second-place finisher to the trans athlete in triple jump, Reese Hogan of Crean Lutheran High School, made it a point to stand on the first-place podium spot for a quick and symbolic photo op. Footage of Hogan taking the top podium spot after the trans athlete stepped off went viral on social media over the weekend. Hogan had just competed against the trans athlete in the prelims a week earlier. At that event, Hogan also came in behind the trans athlete in the triple jump, finishing third, and would have placed one spot higher were it not for the trans athlete. But Hogan did finish ahead of the trans athlete in the high jump. "It's just kind of sad just watching. He's obviously a really talented athlete, we've all seen him jump and stuff, and I wish him the best of luck, but in a boys' division," Hogan previously told Fox News Digital about competing against the athlete. "It's pretty obvious the certain advantages that he has, and it's obviously just sad as a woman to watch that." Hogan also spoke at a press conference to protest the trans athlete at the prelims and wore a shirt that read, "Protect Girls Sports." "It was nothing against the athlete itself, it was just an issue of fairness," Hogan previously said. "Nothing that we can do, no amount of training, no amount of hours that we put in, we could never achieve the same amount of advantages that a man can have." — Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) May 18, 2025 The CIF track and field postseason has been overshadowed by the controversy involving the trans athlete, garnering national scrutiny against the CIF and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. A U.S. Department of Education spokesperson sent a warning to the state in the days leading up to the CIF Southern Section final, referencing previous reports that CIF officials made competitors remove their Protect Girls Sports shirts. "CIF's and Jurupa Valley High School's apparent flouting of federal civil rights law by allowing a male athlete to compete in a female California track and field [Southern Sectional Division 3 final] this Saturday, and the alleged retaliation against the girls who are protesting this, is indefensible," Julie Hartman, a Department of Education spokesperson, told Fox News Digital. The CIF is already under a federal Title IX investigation over the state's trans-inclusion practices. The U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation against CIF in February after President Donald Trump signed the Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports executive order. The CIF was one of the first high school sports leagues in the country to announce it would defy the order. Newsom, in a February episode of his podcast, said he believes trans athletes competing in girls' sports is "deeply unfair" but has not taken any steps as governor to change the state's policies. The state has had a law in place that allows trans athletes to compete with females since 2014. "California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who, in a startling moment of moral clarity, recently remarked that it was 'deeply unfair' for men to compete in women's sports," Hartman continued. "Where is Gov. Newsom now? With or without the governor, the Trump administration's Department of Education's commitment is unwavering: We will not allow institutions to trample upon women's civil rights. OCR's (Office of Civil Rights) investigation into CIF continues with vigor." The trans athlete represents Jurupa Valley High School. The Jurupa Unified School District provided a statement to Fox News Digital in response to the Department of Education's statement. "JUSD continues to follow both California law and CIF policy regarding school athletics. Both state law and CIF policy currently require that students be permitted to participate in athletic teams and competitions consistent with their gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil's records. JUSD remains committed to protecting the rights and safety of the students we serve, in accordance with applicable state and federal laws," the statement reads. Originally published as 'Can't stand for this': California girls' track athlete opens up on losing first place title to trans competitor
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Girls' track athlete opens up on losing title to California trans competitor: ‘Nothing that we can do'
A high school track meet in Southern California became the latest flashpoint in the state's ongoing conflict with President Donald Trump's administration over trans athletes in girls' sports. There, multiple girls' competitors fell shy of first place to a biologically male trans athlete. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Final on Saturday saw the trans athlete take first place in the triple jump and long jump. The second-place finisher in the long jump was Katie McGuinness of La Canada High School. McGuinness recounted the experience of losing to the trans athlete in an interview on Fox News' 'America Reports.' 'I remember thinking to myself, 'OK, I need to get a big jump,'' McGuinness said. 'I ran down the runway and I landed and I watched them measure my mark, and it was 18.9,' she said. 'And I just remember thinking that there was nothing else that I could do. That was it. And I was honestly very discouraged, and I'm a high school senior and winning CIF has always been a goal of mine, and I wasn't able to compete with someone who was genetically different than me.' McGuinness made her overall stance on the issue clear. 4 Katie McGuinness recounted losing to the trans athlete, Reese Hogan. FOX News 'There are just certain genetic advantages that biological males have that biological girls don't,' she said. 'Frankly, I just can't stand for that.' The second-place finisher to the trans athlete in triple jump, Reese Hogan of Crean Lutheran High School, made it a point to stand on the first-place podium spot for a quick and symbolic photo op. Footage of Hogan taking the top podium spot after the trans athlete stepped off went viral on social media over the weekend. Hogan had just competed against the trans athlete in the prelims a week earlier. At that event, Hogan also came in behind the trans athlete in the triple jump, finishing third, and would have placed one spot higher were it not for the trans athlete. But Hogan did finish ahead of the trans athlete in the high jump. 4 Multiple girls' competitors fell shy of first place to a biologically male trans athlete. MediaNews Group via Getty Images 'It's just kind of sad just watching. He's obviously a really talented athlete, we've all seen him jump and stuff, and I wish him the best of luck, but in a boys' division,' Hogan previously told Fox News Digital about competing against the athlete. 'It's pretty obvious the certain advantages that he has, and it's obviously just sad as a woman to watch that.' Hogan also spoke at a press conference to protest the trans athlete at the prelims and wore a shirt that read, 'Protect Girls Sports.' 'It was nothing against the athlete itself, it was just an issue of fairness,' Hogan previously said. 'Nothing that we can do, no amount of training, no amount of hours that we put in, we could never achieve the same amount of advantages that a man can have.' The CIF track and field postseason has been overshadowed by the controversy involving the trans athlete, garnering national scrutiny against the CIF and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. A U.S. Department of Education spokesperson sent a warning to the state in the days leading up to the CIF Southern Section final, referencing previous reports that CIF officials made competitors remove their Protect Girls Sports shirts. 4 The CIF track and field postseason has been overshadowed by the controversy involving the trans athlete. FOX News 'CIF's and Jurupa Valley High School's apparent flouting of federal civil rights law by allowing a male athlete to compete in a female California track and field [Southern Sectional Division 3 final] this Saturday, and the alleged retaliation against the girls who are protesting this, is indefensible,' Julie Hartman, a Department of Education spokesperson, told Fox News Digital. The CIF is already under a federal Title IX investigation over the state's trans-inclusion practices. The U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation against CIF in February after President Donald Trump signed the Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports executive order. The CIF was one of the first high school sports leagues in the country to announce it would defy the order. Newsom, in a February episode of his podcast, said he believes trans athletes competing in girls' sports is 'deeply unfair' but has not taken any steps as governor to change the state's policies. The state has had a law in place that allows trans athletes to compete with females since 2014. 4 McGuinness finished seventh in the women's high jump invitational during the 2025 Arcadia Invitational at Arcadia High School in Arcadia on Saturday, April 12, 2025. MediaNews Group via Getty Images 'California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who, in a startling moment of moral clarity, recently remarked that it was 'deeply unfair' for men to compete in women's sports,' Hartman continued. 'Where is Gov. Newsom now? With or without the governor, the Trump administration's Department of Education's commitment is unwavering: We will not allow institutions to trample upon women's civil rights. OCR's (Office of Civil Rights) investigation into CIF continues with vigor.' The trans athlete represents Jurupa Valley High School. The Jurupa Unified School District provided a statement to Fox News Digital in response to the Department of Education's statement. 'JUSD continues to follow both California law and CIF policy regarding school athletics. Both state law and CIF policy currently require that students be permitted to participate in athletic teams and competitions consistent with their gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil's records. JUSD remains committed to protecting the rights and safety of the students we serve, in accordance with applicable state and federal laws,' the statement reads.
