Rep. Kiley and Assembly Leaders Respond to State’s Civil Rights Defiance

WASHINGTON – Rep. Kevin Kiley, Chair of the House Education Subcommittee covering K-12 Education, is promising accountability after the CA Department of Education announced it will continue forcing female student-athletes to compete against biological males, in defiance of federal civil rights laws. Rep. Kiley joined Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher and Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez in promising to use every tool at the federal and state level to protect women’s and girls’ sports in California.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights recently found that CDE is in “clear violation” of Title IX. It set forth conditions for bringing the state into compliance, including immediate reversal of the policy allowing biological males in girls’ sports, in order to avoid a loss of federal funding. The CDE responded today saying it “respectfully disagrees” with the outcome of the investigation and will continue to defy Title IX. 

“California’s blatant disregard for the safety and civil rights of young women and girls is shameful,” Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) said. “The state’s political leaders are willing to forfeit federal funding in order to maintain the deeply unfair policy of allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports. This is a clear violation of federal law and common sense. As Chair of the House K-12 Education Subcommittee, I will use every tool of oversight available to hold the state’s politicians accountable, protect our student-athletes, and restore integrity to female athletics.” 

“California continues to push the dangerous insanity of letting men compete in women’s sports,” said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (East Nicolaus). “This is about fairness, safety, and the rule of law. Superintendent Thurmond and Governor Newsom are jeopardizing school sports programs across the state, all to appease a radical agenda and advance their political careers.”

“Newsom’s department of education is blatantly violating Title IX — and now they’re doubling down,” said Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez (R–Temecula). “They refuse to protect girls’ sports for biological girls. It’s a shocking civil rights violation that could cost California billions in federal education funding.”

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