US threatens California with legal action over transgender sports law
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US Education Secretary Linda McMahon threatened the state of California with legal action after the state refused to ban transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports.
PHOTO: AFP
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WASHINGTON - US Education Secretary Linda McMahon on July 7 threatened the state of California with legal action after the state refused to ban transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports as demanded by President Donald Trump’s administration.
“@CAgovernor, you’ll be hearing from @AGPamBondi,” Mrs McMahon wrote, using the handles for California Governor Gavin Newsom and US Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Mrs McMahon’s statement on X was the latest salvo in the culture wars over transgender youth and ratchets up the personal rivalry between Mr Trump and Mr Newsom.
Mr Trump has made reversing advances in transgender rights a priority since returning to office on Jan 20, while California law has allowed student-athletes to participate in sports in alignment with their gender identity since 2013.
The Justice Department declined to comment and the Education Department did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for clarification on the meaning of Mrs McMahon’s comment.
California’s state Education Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mr Newsom’s office and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the governing body for high school sports, declined to comment.
The US Education Department issued a statement in June declaring California in violation of the Trump administration’s interpretation of Title IV, the education law banning sex-based discrimination, and demanding the state alter its policy.
The state rejected the federal government’s directive, and in June filed a pre-enforcement lawsuit against the US Justice Department in anticipation of legal action.
With controversy brewing ahead of the state high school track and field championship in June, the CIF allowed girls displaced from the finals by a transgender athlete to also be granted space to compete.
The CIF also allowed girls to appear on the winners’ podium if they would have won a medal without a transgender athlete competing.
As a result, the CIF crowned two champions in the girls’ high jump and triple jump after transgender girl AB Hernandez won both events. REUTERS
