One California high school’s decision to allow a transgender student on a girls’ sports team has raised concerns over fairness and sparked a new debate about keeping girls’ sports for biological females.
Key Facts:
– Two female cross-country athletes at a Riverside, California, high school wore T-shirts stating “Save Girls’ Sports” and “It’s Common Sense. XX ≠ XY.”
– Their spots on the varsity team were affected when a transgender teammate, who they say did not meet usual practice requirements, was placed on the roster.
– Administrators reportedly told them to remove or hide the shirts, likening wearing them to hateful symbols.
– A SF Chronicle culture critic labeled the shirts “transphobic,” calling them “anti-trans activewear” and the “next MAGA hat.”
– The two students have filed a lawsuit alleging violations of free speech and Title IX protections.
The Rest of The Story:
Supporters of single-sex sports emphasize that fairness and safety are key reasons for limiting girls’ teams to biological females.
They point out physical differences that they believe can give a competitive advantage to athletes who are biologically male, no matter how they identify later.
The T-shirts were intended to highlight these concerns and draw attention to how competition changes when teams are not separated by biological sex.
WOKE WOES: T-shirts defending girls’ sports were condemned in the San Francisco Chronicle as the "transphobic" contender for the next "MAGA hat." The backlash was fast and furious. https://t.co/w3sygUqDwh pic.twitter.com/7dkg1jbo13
— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 4, 2025
The students’ families argue that the school should not penalize them for expressing their view, which stems from a desire to preserve the original intent of Title IX—protecting fair opportunities for female athletes.
Opponents of including transgender students on girls’ teams say that “good intentions” are not enough, and that ignoring physical differences can impact roster spots, scholarships, and the overall level playing field.
The fight to save women's sports is not over.
Not until everyone is unafraid to speak the truth.
We need the USOPC.
And Governors.
And parents.
And athletes.
And coaches.Stand with girls & women.
Stand with us.#SaveWomensSports @xx_xyathletics pic.twitter.com/uKBZOuqIn0— Jennifer Sey (@JenniferSey) November 12, 2024
The Bottom Line:
The controversy at this California high school has renewed the call to keep girls’ sports for girls, maintaining that such teams are meant to ensure fair competition for those who are biologically female.
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Proponents see the “Save Girls’ Sports” message as essential for upholding the integrity and original mission of female athletics.