California lawmakers are set to debate two bills that aim to keep transgender kids and teens from participating in sports teams that align with their gender identity. One bill would reverse a 2013 law allowing students to join teams based on gender identity, while the other would ban students assigned male at birth from girls’ sports teams. The debate is expected to draw a crowd, with a conservative commentator and a student-athlete scheduled to testify in support of the ban.
The hearing comes after Transgender Day of Visibility and amid a broader national debate over transgender rights. At least 24 states have laws banning transgender athletes from certain sports competitions, and President Trump signed an executive order on the issue. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has urged California Governor Gavin Newsom to support the proposed ban, citing concerns about gender confusion and the need to protect female spaces.
The debate in California reflects broader cultural divides, with some states imposing bans on gender-affirming care and requiring schools to disclose students’ gender identity to parents without their consent. The U.S. Department of Education has also launched an investigation into a California law preventing schools from informing parents if a student changes their gender identity at school. Amid these controversies, lawmakers are hoping the hearing will provide a balanced platform for rational deliberation on the issue.
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