August 14, 2025

Kern County Board of Education bans biological male athletes in girls' sports in defiance of Gavin Newsom

Kern County just threw a curveball at California’s progressive playbook by voting to ban transgender athletes from girls’ sports.

Fox News reported that the Kern County Board of Education decided to ditch state policy and side with federal Title IX definitions, aligning with the stance pushed by former President Donald Trump’s administration.

This decision didn’t come out of nowhere; California has long been at odds with Trump’s push to restrict transgender participation in sports, even rejecting an executive order earlier this year that aimed to keep “males” out of girls’ and women’s competitions.

Throughout this year, California’s rules have allowed transgender athletes to compete in sports like basketball, cross-country, and track, much to the chagrin of those who argue it tips the scales of fairness.

In the spring, tensions flared when a transgender athlete from Jurupa Valley High School vied for two state titles in girls’ events, putting a spotlight on the growing divide over this issue.

By May, the debate got hotter as three Christian schools—JSerra Catholic High, Orange Lutheran, and Crean Lutheran—penned a joint letter to the California Interscholastic Federation, slamming the state’s gender identity rules as a direct clash with their faith-based values.

Religious Schools Push Back Hard

The schools didn’t mince words, stating, “CIF’s expectation that all faith-based schools facilitate the CIF Gender Identity Policy puts religious schools in the untenable position of adhering to their faith in classrooms but practicing something contrary on athletic fields.”

Well, isn’t that a pickle? Forcing schools to choose between deeply held beliefs and state mandates is a surefire way to spark a rebellion, and Kern County seems to be leading the charge as the first public board in California to openly defy state authorities on this front.

Interestingly, they’re not alone—two school boards in Maine took similar steps earlier this year, passing local resolutions to bar transgender athletes from girls’ sports, showing this isn’t just a Golden State showdown.

Enter the U.S. Department of Justice, which, under Trump’s influence, has slapped lawsuits on both California and Maine, arguing that these inclusive policies rob girls of equal opportunities and force them into uncomfortable shared spaces.

The DOJ’s case against California pulls no punches, claiming, “California’s policies ‘eviscerate equal athletic opportunities for girls.’” If that’s not a gut check for fairness advocates, what is?

They further argue that girls are “displaced from podiums, denied awards,” and miss out on college scholarships due to these rules—a point that’s hard to ignore when you think about a young athlete’s dreams hanging in the balance.

Newsom’s Mixed Signals on Fairness

California Governor Gavin Newsom, while not named in the DOJ lawsuit, hasn’t exactly been a rock of clarity, admitting in July, “I struggled with the issue of fairness when it came to sports.”

He doubled down, saying, “I don’t think it’s fair, but I also think it’s demeaning to talk down to people.” It’s a tightrope walk—acknowledging the unfairness while trying to shield the transgender community from harsh rhetoric, but where’s the concrete action to resolve this mess?

Written By:
Benjamin Clark

Latest Posts

See All
Newsletter
Get news from American Digest in your inbox.
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: American Digest, 3000 S. Hulen Street, Ste 124 #1064, Fort Worth, TX, 76109, US, https://staging.americandigest.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.
© 2025 - The American Digest - All Rights Reserved