California Keeps Trans Athletes in Girls' Sports After 6-3 Supreme Court Ruling
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 4
California Keeps Trans Athletes in Girls' Sports After 6-3 Supreme Court Ruling
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 4
Summary
Newsom's office said California law will not change after the Supreme Court upheld state bans on transgender athletes in girls' and women's sports by a 6-3 vote.
The statement said the ruling does not affect California statutes and framed the state's position as protecting LGBTQ residents with "dignity and respect."
That stance drew fresh backlash from women's sports activists including Riley Gaines and Jennifer Sey, reviving scrutiny after trans athlete AB Hernandez won 2 California state track titles in May.
Newsom's position also sharpens a contradiction with his March 2025 remark that male participation in girls' sports is "deeply unfair," while the Trump Justice Department is already pursuing Title IX cases over California policy.
Beyond sports, what are the next legal battlegrounds for transgender rights in sex-segregated spaces?
Supreme Court’s 2026 Ruling on Transgender Athletes: Legal, Political, and Societal Fallout Across 27 States
Overview
On June 30, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a major decision in West Virginia v. B.P.J., allowing states to exclude transgender girls and women from female sports categories. This ruling lets states define athletic eligibility based on 'biological sex assigned at birth,' supporting arguments that such policies ensure fair competition. However, opponents argue these bans are discriminatory and violate federal law and equal protection rights. The decision has immediate effects nationwide, especially in states with existing bans, and allows these policies to continue, leaving school leaders and communities to navigate the complex and personal impacts of the ruling.