By the Associated Press’s Colin Binkley
Washington (AP) The California Department of Education and the state’s high school sports federation were found to have violated civil rights law by permitting transgender girls to play on girls’ teams by the Trump administration.
On Wednesday, the federal Education Department revealed the results and put out a resolution mandating that California prohibit transgender women from participating in women’s sports and deprive transgender athletes of their accomplishments, championships, and records. This is the most recent step in the Republican administration’s campaign to ban transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports across the country.
The Education Department may attempt to stop California’s federal education funding if the state rejects the idea.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated, “Our findings today make clear that California has failed to adhere to its obligations under federal law, and the Trump Administration will relentlessly enforce Title IX protections for women and girls.” The state must quickly comply with Title IX or else it will be held accountable.
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The 1972 statute known as Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in the classroom.
Requests for response on Wednesday were not immediately answered by California education and sports officials.
In February, the California Interscholastic Federation said that it will comply with a state legislation that permits athletes to play on teams that reflect their gender identification, prompting federal authorities to launch an investigation into the organization. This came after President Donald Trump signed an executive order that prohibited transgender athletes from playing women’s and girls’ sports.
Regarding the same matter, McMahon’s department launched an inquiry against the California Department of Education in April.
According to the findings of both investigations, state policies were in violation of Title IX. As part of its crusade against transgender athletes, the government has been using the statute and opening several investigations into states, institutions, and schools. The Biden administration tried to extend Title IX to include rights for transgender children, but this is a reversal. Before Trump took office in January, a federal judge blocked the expansion.
According to the administration’s proposed resolution, California would have to inform schools that transgender athletes should not be allowed on girls’ teams and that all schools must define male and female using biological standards. Additionally, the state would have to inform schools that any divergent interpretations of state law would be deemed to be Title IX violations.
The plan would oblige the state to write personal letters of apology to athletes who lost records, prizes, or titles to transgender athletes and restore those athletes’ distinctions.
In a separate dispute with the administration about transgender athletes, a similar settlement was presented to Maine’s education agency. The Justice Department filed a lawsuit to stop Maine’s federal education funding after the state rejected the proposal in April.
According to federal regulations, the sports federation and California’s education office have ten days to comply or face enforcement action.
At a state track meet in May, the federation independently tested a pilot policy that permitted one additional competitor in three events that included transgender high school junior AB Hernandez. Following Trump’s criticism of Hernandez’s participation on social media, the organization made the announcement. The Justice Department stated that it will look into the state and Hernandez’s district to see if Title IX was being broken.
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