Tennis icon Martina Navratilova has openly criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom and the state's policies concerning transgender athletes' participation in girls' sports.
This criticism comes in the wake of a recent incident that has reignited the debate over transgender inclusion in female sports categories. A new record in the triple jump was set during a California girls' high school track and field event, prompting discussions about the fairness of allowing transgender athletes to compete in these categories.
According to Fox News, Navratilova, a staunch advocate for fairness in women's sports, expressed her disapproval of Governor Newsom's stance on the matter via social media. "Seems fair to me, right??? Hey gov. Newsom- @CAgovernor- this is not ok!!! This is not what one would call progressive. In fact its regressive AF," she stated.
The California Interscholastic Federation, along with other high school governing bodies in the United States, has decided to continue permitting transgender athletes to compete in women's sports, despite an executive order from former President Donald Trump that aimed to restrict biological males from participating in girls' and women's sports.
This decision aligns California with states like Minnesota and Maine, which have also chosen to uphold similar policies. Attorney General Pam Bondi has issued a warning to these states, urging compliance with Trump's directive or face potential legal consequences. "This Department of Justice will hold accountable states and state entities that violate federal law," Bondi asserted in a letter obtained by Fox News.
She referenced the Justice Department's previous legal actions against Illinois and New York for non-compliance with federal immigration laws, emphasizing the department's readiness to pursue states that defy federal antidiscrimination laws.
Trump's executive order directed the Justice and Education Departments to prioritize enforcement against athletic associations that compromise girls' equal opportunities by requiring them to compete against boys. The former president even threatened to withdraw federal funding from Maine schools over their gender-participation policy, leading to a dispute with Governor Janet Mills.
In California, Bondi highlighted that the state should be vigilant as the Department of Education investigates the California Interscholastic Federation under Title IX. "If the Department of Educations investigation shows that the Federation is indeed denying girls an equal opportunity to participate in sports and athletic events by requiring them to compete against boys, the Department of Justice stands ready to take all appropriate action to enforce federal law," Bondi wrote.
She reiterated the Justice Department's commitment to ensuring compliance with federal law, which mandates that girls should compete only against other girls in sports.
Bondi further emphasized the department's dedication to defending women's sports, stating, "This Department of Justice will defend women and does not tolerate state officials who ignore federal law."
She assured that all necessary legal measures would be employed to ensure state adherence to federal law and President Trump's Executive Order safeguarding women's sports.
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