Key facts
- A federal judge dismissed the Trump administration's lawsuit challenging California's policy on transgender youth in school sports.
A federal judge has dismissed the Trump administration's lawsuit challenging California's policy allowing transgender youth to participate in school sports aligned with their gender identity. The ruling is a significant setback for the administration's efforts to ban trans girls from women's sports.
The dismissal of the lawsuit is a significant victory for transgender rights and California's inclusive sports policies, potentially setting a precedent for similar cases nationwide and affirming the right of trans youth to participate in school sports.
A federal judge has dismissed the Trump administration's lawsuit that sought to force California to ban transgender girls from participating in women's sports. US judge Cynthia Valenzuela ruled that the federal government failed to provide clear notice to the state that its federal funding was contingent on schools banning trans girls from sports.
The lawsuit, filed by the Department of Justice, alleged that California's policy of allowing transgender youth to play on sports teams matching their gender identity violated Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in schools. The administration had argued that trans girls taking spots on girls' teams deprived other girls of opportunities.
Judge Valenzuela noted that federal guidelines on this issue have shifted over the past decade and that an executive order from Trump calling for trans girls to be blocked from girls' sports did not constitute clear notice. The ruling comes after the Supreme Court upheld similar bans in West Virginia and Idaho, though the court's decision was described as narrow and did not mandate a national ban.
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice expressed disappointment and stated they are evaluating options for appeal, reaffirming commitment to preventing boys from playing in girls' sports. California officials highlighted that fewer than 10 trans student-athletes were estimated to be participating in sports out of nearly 6 million students in the state's K-12 public school system. Groups supporting trans youth celebrated the ruling, calling it a victory for trans rights and a message that schools must allow trans youth to play on teams aligning with their gender.