California Reaffirms its Values of Preventing Dangerous Abuse & Supporting All Youth in Schools
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2025
LGBTQ Caucus Contacts: Natalia Garcia & Jacob Fraker | Natalia.Garcia@asm.ca.gov & Jacob.Fraker@sen.ca.gov
California Reaffirms its Values of Preventing Dangerous Abuse & Supporting All Youth in Schools
(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Today, California reaffirmed its core values of supporting all youth in schools by voting down two measures that would subject children and young adults to invasive personal health questions and dangerous genital checks. AB 89 (Sanchez) and AB 844 (Essayli) – whose bill authors both historically do not support the rights of LGBTQ+ Californians – were defeated in the first policy committee.
“These two anti-transgender bills relied on the false premise that transgender youth participating in sports alongside their friends and using the restroom are somehow a threat to their peers,” said Assemblymember Chris Ward, Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. “Instead of addressing legitimate fairness and safety concerns – such as providing equitable funding for girls’ sports; diminishing the harassment of players online and in-person; combatting exploitation and abuse by coaches and support staff – these misguided and ill-informed bills sought to demonize one of the smallest portions of the student population. I am grateful my colleagues joined our Caucus in not stopping these dangerous bills.”
These two bills sought to restrict the rights of TGI youth by repealing a prior LGBTQ Caucus priority bill, AB 1266, the School Success and Opportunity Act, which was enacted over a decade ago. Since then, local school districts across California have established policies to allow TGI youth to compete alongside their cisgender peers, as well as to ensure all students have adequate access to facilities. Most school districts have worked to create an environment where all students are treated with dignity and respect. These policies are working.
PREVENTING ABUSE OF YOUTH, PARTICULARLY YOUNG GIRLS:
“I want to thank the Caucus Chair and my Assembly Dem colleagues for seeing right through these bills,” said Senator Caroline Menjivar, Vice Chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. “We have seen the consequences of passing these policies in states across this nation. If we truly want to protect women’s sports we should instead invest in them at the same level we do male sports. We should pay coaches of girls teams at parity to what coaches of boys’ teams get. Any bill that opens up people, especially children, to the potential inspection of the genitals in order to play a sport is by no means an effort to keep anyone safe.”
Blanket bans empower harassment, targeting, and abuse perpetrated by adults against youth, particularly young girls. In states that have such bans, any person has had the ability to accuse a girl of being transgender and subject her to humiliation, online harassment, and genital inspections. Rather than providing the best possible education and helping to improve the well-being of all students AB 89 (Sanchez) and AB 844 (Essayli) would have further empowered harassment, violence, and abuse of youth, particularly young girls – hence why the policy committee stopped such dangerous bills from advancing in the California State Legislature.
"I’m not going to support a bill that takes rights away from a protected class of people," Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said during today's committee hearing. "Gender identity is a protected class here in California just like race, sex and age, and it’s been a protected class for more than a decade. I’m not turning my back on that. I’m not going to sanction discrimination against LGBTQ Californians. Not now, not ever."
WHAT PARENTS, COACHES, ATHLETES, AND ALLIES ARE SAYING:
“California has consistently fought for civil rights and equal access, and a future where all Californians are treated with respect and dignity. These bills would have done the opposite. This was a cruel attempt to allow the harassment of a small and vulnerable group of Californians and exclude kids from the benefits of participating in a sport. California must continue to be a leader in equality and inclusion, rejecting attempts to erase and exclude transgender students from the opportunities they deserve.” – Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis
"TransFamily Support Services is grateful to everyone who stood with us today to oppose AB 89 and AB 844, and to the committee for rejecting these discriminatory bills. These proposals were clear attempts to push trans youth—and the trans community as a whole—out of public life. Trans youth deserve to be fully present in these spaces, to exist among their peers, and to show up as their authentic selves at school without being forced to shrink themselves for the comfort of those acting out of hate. Most importantly, trans kids deserve to be kids—not political pawns or sensationalized talking points. We appreciate the committee for recognizing this and voting accordingly." – TransFamily Support Services Executive Director Kathie Moehlig (she/her)
"Instead of tackling the real problems in our state like high inflation and rising healthcare costs, Asm. Sanchez and Essayli continue to waste time and taxpayer money using transgender youth as political pawns in a shameful display of divisive politics and a thirst for attention. AB 89 and AB 844 are part of the nationwide coordinated effort led by extremists in Washington D.C. to sow fear and misinformation about transgender people—in particular youth—and attempt to erase them from virtually all areas of public life. We are pleased these bills have failed and are thankful to those lawmakers who opposed this dangerous legislation in committee, particularly to the committee chair, Assemblymember Chris Ward, for his leadership.” – Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang
“Most athletes, if they were to answer you truthfully, would tell you that sports are inherently unfair. Each athlete’s body responds differently to stimulus and nutrition. Some athletes naturally build muscle more easily, or sit at a low body fat percentage, or are simply taller. We don’t exclude them from sports because of this. We don’t test athletes and see whether they were born with specific biological advantages such as longer limbs, higher than average flexibility, or an unusual ability to process oxygen. And we certainly don’t exclude these people from sports, instead they become the Katie Ledecky’s and Michael Phelps’s of the world. Reducing sports and success in sports to supposed inherent biological advantages does a disservice to all athletes by negating the skill and hard work that goes into being athletically successful. We should want more young people to play sports and learn the lifelong lessons that it teaches, not put up more barriers for girls that subject them to invasive interrogation or make them risk public ridicule in order to join a sports team.” – Rhiannon Mulligan (6-Time NCAA Medalist and an All-American)
“I am the mom of two teens, one who is a varsity water polo player, and one who is transgender. I lettered in Soccer and Volleyball under CIF, competed in NCAA Division III in college, and coached girls’ club sports for several years. Through athletics, I learned teamwork, resilience, and leadership that I’ve taken into the business world. This same opportunity to learn important life skills should be available for all student-athletes. Enforcing these bills would be a deterrent for girls. It would have required girls to answer invasive personal questions or undergo physical inspections if they want to play sports. That is a major violation of privacy, and ripe for the type of sexual abuse that already plagues female sports at all levels. I am grateful these bills did not move forward with these unnecessary pieces of legislation which will further stigmatize and cause harm to children like mine. California should be improving the well-being of all students, not harming their mental health nor creating a hostile environment.” – N. P. (Former NCAA Athlete, Girls’ Soccer Coach, and Parent)
“I’m a proud mama bear for my daughter who is transgender and it is important all understand that everyone deserves to have equal access to facilities in alignment with their gender. In spaces where my daughter has not felt comfortable using facilities aligned with her gender, I’ve seen her physically uncomfortable, with stomach aches that have sometimes kept her home from school. Access to a safe school bathroom helps so much, allowing her to take care of herself physically so that she can focus on the important stuff at school – baking club, and crushes, and the newest magic cards. This is why California laws protecting trans young people are so critical. They help to ensure my daughter and kids like her are treated with dignity and respect, just like everyone else. And this is why bills like AB 89 and AB 844 are so awful. Beyond sports and bathrooms, bills like these tell part of our community that they don’t belong and they aren’t welcome. We need to be in community together now more than ever. We need to be in schools together. We need all our kids to feel grounded and secure in their bodies.” – C. B. J. (Parent and Youth Soccer Coach)
“These bills undermine longstanding protections that ensure equal educational opportunity for all students and perpetuates the harmful and false narrative that transgender students are a threat to the safety and wellbeing of other students. The existence of transgender students does not threaten anyone, and like all students, transgender students deserve to learn and grow as their truest and best selves, including when playing sports and accessing school facilities. Sports bans harm women and girls by inviting scrutiny of any woman or girl who doesn’t conform to sex stereotypes. This is already happening: cisgender girl athletes have been investigated or harassed after others questioned their gender.” – E. M., PhD. (Higher Education Administrator)
Our transgender daughter has enjoyed playing tennis for over three years now. She's always been shy and reticent to try new things but it didn't take long for her to develop a true appreciation and enjoyment from tennis. Not only has the sport provided great exercise and physical activity, it has really helped her confidence grow. She has seen firsthand just what consistent, hard work can lead to and that she can become good at something even if it’s hard at first. If these bills had passed, and our daughter was forced to play tennis with kids that match her sex assigned at birth, it would forcibly out her as transgender. She would have opted to quit playing before doing that because at this point in her life she prefers this information to be private. Her withdrawal from this sport would have also impacted her physical fitness and take away one of the activities that she truly enjoys. This entire bill is just trying to create a solution for a problem that doesn't exist. It would have severe negative consequences on my daughter and her mental health and would have driven her away from sports and all the benefits sports offer.” – A. N. Proud Parent
“As the parent of two children who have played sports for years, I know how valuable sports are for kids to learn how to work as a team, build confidence, and have fun. I’m really saddened to see people use false claims regarding transgender children to try and use sports as an in to marginalize and dehumanize them. All children deserve to have fun with friends and play sports. I sincerely hope that people stop believing the power-grabbing lies and focus on keeping all kids safe.” – R. H. (Parent of Two)
“My child is a transgender athlete at the high school level doing both track and cross country. Sports for her has been a way for her to make friends, something that has always been difficult for her throughout her life. It's given her a place to belong, to feel included and be part of a team. Sports provide benefits to all kids, regardless of gender or gender identity. Sports teams help children learn how to win and lose in a healthy way. It helps develop sportsmanship, which is a crucial life skill. Including transgender kids in sports is vital because they are excluded in so many parts of society. If we try to erase them in this area, what will be next? Jobs, schools, clubs, etc. Being a part of a sports team helps develop a healthy sense of self. Excluding them does nothing positive. Exclusionary policies are detrimental to the mental health of an already marginalized group of people. I know if my child were not involved in sports, she would be sitting at home in her bedroom all day on her phone with the door closed. She wouldn't be spending time with friends; she wouldn't be getting exercise. Sports are better when everyone is included.” – J.J. (Parent)
“Inclusion should be the default for all persons. Transgender exclusion is damaging for all participants and results in unrelenting body shaming with harmful effects on both those excluded and cisgender persons being accused of appearing transgender and for transgender persons having to hide their true selves. This marginalizes athletes who have natural biological advantages. Transgender athletes are not out here competing and dominating with an unfair advantage. Transgender athletes are simply asking to be included in the sport. Anti-transgender bills are hateful and harmful.” – S. N. (Former NCAA Athlete)
“I played on high school and college sports teams, which not only was good for my physical and mental health, but so many lessons of collaboration, leadership, and resilience that I’ve taken into the business world. It’s about competing, but more importantly, camaraderie and healthy fun. These benefits should be open to all children. It denigrates sport to say that participation is only about winning. Let them play.” – N. P. (Former NCAA Athlete and Youth Club Coach)
“Transgender kids are part of our teams! They belong and deserve our support and protection! Youth who participate in sports do better in school; they have more occupational aspirations and greater self-esteem; they have a sense of belonging. There is no evidence that allowing transgender athletes to play on a team that fits their gender identity would affect the fairness of the sport and many organizations have supported full and equal participation of transgender kids in all educational programs and sports. All kids should have access to the benefits of sports.” – A. G. (President of a local PFLAG Chapter)
For questions or to schedule an interview with LGBTQ Caucus Chair Ward, contact Anthony Reyes: Anthony.Reyes@asm.ca.gov.
For questions or to schedule an interview with LGBTQ Caucus Vice Chair Menjivar, contact Celeste Jale: Celeste.Jale@sen.ca.gov.
CC both LGBTQ Caucus Consultants on all requests: Natalia.Garcia@asm.ca.gov and Jacob.Fraker@sen.ca.gov.
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