A growing cultural and legal battle over whether biological males should compete on girls’ sports teams is forcing California school boards to get off the sidelines. While many school boards claim they are bound by state law, the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) recently became the first in California to vote on a resolution calling for legislative change. This pivotal moment has amplified the debate over fairness, privacy, and the future of women’s athletics.
Riverside’s Bold Step
At the center of the controversy is California Education Code § 221.5(f), which requires schools to allow students to compete on teams and use facilities aligning with their gender identity. The California Family Council (CFC) and others argue the law unfairly disadvantages girls in competition and compromises their safety and privacy. The Riverside school board debated a resolution asking the state legislature to repeal the law, with the resolution failing in a narrow 3-2 vote.
Unlike other districts that have avoided the issue, Riverside Unified School District was forced to take a public stance. Board member Amanda Vickers, who authored the resolution written by Assemblyman Bill Essayli (R-Corona), stated, “The current system is not working; someone needs to stand up for our girls.” Despite the resolution’s 3-2 defeat, CFC hopes the resolution and the vote inspire parents and advocates to press other districts to adopt similar measures.
“Conservative school board members have a responsibility to lead. Introducing resolutions like Riverside’s makes it clear to parents where their elected officials stand on this critical issue,” said CFC Vice President CFC Greg Burt, “The vast majority of Californians oppose boys competing in girls’ sports. We need to give them a voice.” (See poll)
A Lawsuit Sparks National Attention
Riverside’s debate intensified after a lawsuit was filed by two teenage athletes, Kaitlyn and Taylor, at Martin Luther King High School. These girls were censored for wearing T-shirts that read “Save Girls’ Sports” and “It’s Common Sense. XX ≠ XY,” messages advocating for competition based on biological sex. The school’s Assistant Principal Amanda Chann likened their shirts to Nazi swastikas, an act that drew widespread condemnation.
The lawsuit, filed by Advocates for Faith and Freedom, alleges violations of the students’ First Amendment rights to free speech, Fourteenth Amendment rights to equal protection, and Title IX protections for female athletes. “We will not allow boys to take over girls’ sports or let woke policies silence young women fighting for fair competition,” said attorney Julianne Fleischer.
Protect Girls’ Sports Act Gains Momentum
At the state level, Assemblymember Kate Sanchez has introduced the Protect Girls’ Sports Act (AB 89), which would require high school sports to align with biological sex. Sanchez described the bill as a safeguard for Title IX and an acknowledgment of biological realities. “Young women who have spent years training and sacrificing to compete at the highest level are now forced to compete against individuals with undeniable biological advantages. It’s not just unfair—it’s disheartening and dangerous,” Sanchez said in a statement announcing the bill.
Greg Burt praised Sanchez’s leadership, calling AB 89 a “necessary step to protect the integrity of women’s athletics.” He urged parents across California to press their school boards to support the legislation and pass resolutions like Riverside’s to force state lawmakers to act.
Broader Implications for Women’s Sports
The implications of these debates extend far beyond Riverside. When Title IX was enacted in 1972, only 1 in 27 girls participated in organized sports. Today, that number is 1 in 3, representing decades of progress. Advocates warn that California’s policies jeopardize these hard-fought gains by allowing biologically male athletes to dominate female sports.
The controversy is mobilizing parents and organizations like CFC, which hopes Riverside’s examples with inspire other districts to do the same. Burt called this a pivotal moment for conservative school boards. “If elected leaders don’t take a stand now, we risk undoing the progress women have made in sports and eroding public trust in our schools.”
A Call to Action
As the debate continues, parents are being urged to hold their school boards accountable. California Family Council’s Outreach Director Sophia Lorey emphasized the stakes during a recent school board meeting, stating, “Biology is not bigotry. Physiological reality is undeniable, and no matter how hard females work, males are statistically faster and stronger.”
The decision by Riverside Unified School District to address this divisive issue has sparked a statewide conversation, with advocates hoping to see similar resolutions and legislative victories in the months ahead. The Protect Girls’ Sports Act could become a defining moment in the fight for fairness in women’s athletics.
