A growing coalition of parents, students, and faith-based schools is challenging the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) over its policy allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports. The California Family Council (CFC) has launched a petition urging the CIF to revise its Gender Identity Participation policy, citing concerns over fairness, safety, and the integrity of female athletics.
The petition, available on the CFC’s website, argues that allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports undermines the purpose of Title IX, which was established to ensure equal opportunities for female athletes. The CFC contends that the current CIF policy creates an uneven playing field and places female athletes at a disadvantage.
CFC’s petition reads:
“Dear Members of the CIF Board of Managers and Executive Staff,
“We, the undersigned residents, parents, educators, coaches, and organizations from across California, write with deep concern about CIF’s current gender identity participation policy, adopted in 2013 under Bylaw 300 D.
“This policy states that “all students should have the opportunity to participate in CIF activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on a student’s records.” Though some may have once believed this policy would promote fairness or inclusion, state leaders were warned from the beginning that it would harm female athletes—but those warnings were ignored. A decade later, the results speak for themselves. Every prediction made by concerned parents, coaches, and advocates has come true. And if this trend continues, it’s not hard to imagine a future where males who identify as female dominate every female competition—effectively erasing women’s sports altogether.
“The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) currently allows males to compete in girls’ sports—a policy that undermines fairness, endangers safety, and violates the core principles of Title IX. Title IX is a federal civil rights law enacted in 1972 that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. It was specifically designed to ensure that women and girls have equal opportunities, including in athletics. CIF may claim it is merely following state law, but state law cannot override federal law. Under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, federal law—including Title IX—takes precedence over any conflicting state statute or policy. Both California and CIF are legally obligated to comply with Title IX, and by allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports, they are in direct violation of it.“
This issue gained national attention following a girls’ track meet in Yorba Linda, California, where a transgender athlete’s participation sparked protests and a press conference organized by the CFC.
AB Hernandez, a biological male allowed to compete in the women’s division, holds the records for women’s high jump, long jump, and triple jump.
Prior to the girls’ track meet on May 10th, student athletes and parents spoke out against CIF’s policies.
“No matter how hard we train, how many hours we put in, reality will always set in that men and women are different…To me, this just doesn’t seem fair. CIF is doing nothing to protect us female athletes,” said student athlete Olivia Viola of Crean Lutheran High School.
In a letter, representatives from JSerra Catholic, Orange Lutheran, and Crean Lutheran High Schools voiced their opposition to the CIF’s policy. A portion of the letter reads:
“As educational institutions, we have a moral and ethical duty to form students throughout their crucial developmental years. As religious institutions, that duty is accompanied by a heightened existential task: to help young people discover and embrace their identities as men or women intentionally created by a loving God…
“We understand that CIF’s Gender Identity Policy as currently written comports with California state law. However, under the constitutional structure of our federal republic, state laws that conflict with binding federal laws are invalid. (See United States Constitution, Article VI.) Given the recent very clear direction from the Executive Branch of the federal government and its administrative agencies regarding the meaning of the word “sex” and its implementation in the application of Title IX, we strongly encourage CIF to amend its Gender Identity Policy in a manner that safeguards the interests of all female athletes.”
The letter was signed by the President of JSerra Catholic High School, Mr. Richard Meyer, the Executive Director of Orange Lutheran High School, Dr. Mary Scott, and the Executive Director of Crean Lutheran High School, Dr. Jeffrey Beavers.
The controversy has prompted the U.S. Department of Education to investigate the CIF for potential Title IX violations. President Donald Trump’s administration has emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of women’s sports and ensuring that female athletes have equal opportunities to compete.
Public opinion in California appears to support the petition’s objectives. A recent bipartisan poll indicates that 65% of California adults, including 71% of public school parents, oppose allowing transgender athletes to compete on teams that do not match their birth-assigned sex.
In response to the growing concerns, some local school boards, such as the Redlands Unified School District in San Bernardino, have adopted policies to restrict transgender participation in girls’ sports. These measures reflect a broader push to protect the rights and opportunities of female athletes.
The CFC’s petition continues to gather support as stakeholders advocate for policies that uphold fairness and safety in girls’ sports. The outcome of the federal investigation and the CIF’s response to the petition will significantly impact the future of high school athletics in California.
