California Has Failed Women and Girl Athletes
My trip to California to testify in defense of female sports.
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About the Author
Dr. Colin Wright is the CEO/Editor-in-Chief of Reality’s Last Stand, an evolutionary biology PhD, and Manhattan Institute Fellow. His writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Times, the New York Post, Newsweek, City Journal, Quillette, Queer Majority, and other major news outlets and peer-reviewed journals.
On April 1st, I was invited to Sacramento, California, to serve as a technical expert and provide expert testimony in support of Assembly Bills AB-844 and AB-89. Both bills aim to restore biological sex—not self-declared “gender identity”—as the basis for participation in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic competitions and access to facilities, at all educational levels. Conservative commentator Matt Walsh also testified at the hearing, bringing his signature boldness and clarity to the proceedings. More on that later.
Under current California law, students are allowed to participate in sex-segregated programs and use facilities in accordance with their so-called “gender identity.” Moreover, the state defines “gender” as “sex,” rendering any statute intended to apply to biological sex effectively unenforceable. In practice, anyone can self-identify into the legal sex category of their choosing.
This approach conflicts with the original intent and language of Title IX, the federal civil rights law passed in 1972 to prohibit sex-based discrimination in federally funded educational programs. Title IX explicitly allows for sex-segregated spaces—such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and athletic teams—so long as they are based on biological sex. By redefining “sex” to mean “gender identity,” California undermines these protections and places its educational institutions at odds with federal law.
I left California three years ago for several reasons, one of which was my desire to raise a family in a state that acknowledges and values biological reality. Policies like Colorado’s recently passed House Bill 25-1312, which makes “misgendering” or “deadnaming” a child a factor in custody battles, signals a disturbing trend in blue states. California is clearly on a similar path. That’s why relocating to Tennessee made sense for me and my future family.
Returning to my home state was surreal. The physical landscape remains unchanged, but the ideological terrain has shifted dramatically. From inside the hearing room, I observed firsthand how this shift has transformed the state’s political culture. Opponents of the bill lined up to speak, many adorned with transgender flag pins and other ideological symbols. There was a stark contrast between the groups for and against the bill. The opponents were mostly younger individuals—many visibly uncomfortable in their own skin, adorned with piercings. They would have clearly gravitated to the “Goth” subculture that was prevalent during my youth.
The older opponents were typically normal-looking women. Some were liberal grandparents who believed that “trans rights” was akin to gay rights. They simply haven’t kept up with the shifting narratives. Many were moms claiming to have transgender children. Given the level of commitment required—social transition, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, or even surgery—it’s no surprise they defended their decisions with fervor. Admitting regret now would mean confronting the painful reality that they have seriously and permanently harmed their children.
The official reasons given for opposing AB-844 was that the bill would “discriminate against transgender individuals” and “invite scrutiny and harassment” of students who fail to conform to sex stereotypes. Many insisted it would even result in “genital inspections”—a line of attack repeated by prominent figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—which they framed as a form of sexual assault that would target any girl who didn’t live up to societal standards of femininity. But this is a false and inflammatory claim. Sex verification in sports can be done with a simple, non-invasive cheek swab. No genital exam required. Ironically, the only reason some hyper-masculine girls face suspicion today is because current policy allows males to compete in female sports. If proper sex verification protocols were enforced, such suspicions would disappear.
Much of the opposition was emotionally charged, and at times unhinged. One individual, Ben Hudson—whom I suspect is a trans-identified woman despite the beard—was allowed to speak twice and had to be forcibly removed both times for disrupting the proceedings. He(?) continued shouting from the hallway long after being escorted out.
Shockingly, Nazi comparisons began to fly, but not from the most unhinged activists. Instead, it was assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, a Democrat, who compared those of us advocating for sex-based protections in women’s sports to Nazis.
The little girls in attendance opposing supporting the bill were apparently Nazis. The significant number LGBT individuals in attendance supporting fairness and safety in women’s and girls sports were Nazis. By Zbur’s logic, even Governor Gavin Newsom must be a Nazi, given that he publicly acknowledged—on both Charlie Kirk’s show and Real Time with Bill Maher—that males competing in female sports is “deeply” and “fundamentally” unfair.
Despite being April 1st, Zbur’s claim was no April Fools gag.
Assemblymember Christopher Ward, a gay man, was at least more measured in his remarks. He explained his opposition by equating transgender identity with being gay. But the two are not comparable. Being gay does not infringe on others’ rights, distort scientific reality, or require ideological adherence. The statement “trans women are women” is a profession of faith, not a biological fact.
Many Democrat legislators didn’t even bother to engage with the facts. Instead, they used their time to attack Donald Trump or grandstand on unrelated issues. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, for instance, made a point of showing up to oppose AB-89—an otherwise straightforward bill to protect women’s sports—so he could deliver a screed accusing Republicans of ignoring California’s “real” problems: DOGE, Trump, and abortion.
One common objection raised by opponents was that there are too few transgender athletes in California for this to be a pressing issue. But this misses the point entirely. If something is unfair, it is unfair—regardless of how often it occurs. We don’t permit the use of performance-enhancing drugs just because only a small number of athletes use them. We ban them because they undermine fairness. Similarly, we don’t need to wait until large numbers of males compete in female sports to justify banning it.
Another argument was that “sports are inherently unfair,” and thus, trying to level the playing field is futile. But sex-based and weight-based categories don’t aim to eliminate all advantage; they aim to ensure that athletes are competing within comparable biological classes. Without weight classes, boxing would be dominated by the heaviest athletes. Without sex classes, elite sports would be dominated by men. These categories allow us to reward skill, training, and excellence within appropriate peer groups—not just raw physical advantage.
If opponents of these bills simply believe women’s sports shouldn’t exist, they should say so. But they should not hide behind arguments that “sports are unfair anyway” to justify an obvious and easily fixable injustice.
The contrast between the Republican and Democrat lawmakers at the hearing was stark. Republicans were generally thoughtful, well-informed, and grounded in biological reality. Many Democrats seemed more interested in performance and posturing than in protecting fairness and safety for women and girls.
The highlight of the hearing was Matt Walsh’s testimony. He dispensed with platitudes and spoke directly to the truth of the matter. His message—centered on truth itself—was crucial. While this may not be the most pressing issue in America, the inability of Democratic leaders to recognize even this basic reality reveals something deeper: a preference for ideology over fact. And that makes them untrustworthy. If they can’t get this right, they’re either lying or profoundly stupid.
Unfortunately, I was not given time to give my testimony. Rightfully, young female athletes were given time to speak, and their testimony is more important. I was, however, on standby in case any of the politicians had any questions about the biology of sex differences and how this creates categorical unfairness they needed answered. I was honored to be present and proud to support efforts to bring truth and fairness back to the state I once considered home.
California can still choose reality. I hope it does.
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Ah, yes...the old there-are-so-few-trans-athletes excuse! This is a pretty lame defense; at the same time activists are scolding us for being concerned with those athletes, they are praising these same people for winning awards.
Every day is April 1st apparently