Protesters challenge trans sports policy in California

“They are losing the opportunities that they have worked for their entire young lives for,” Shaw added.

Lorey told The Center Square that the California Family Council is there to provide resources to student athletes who want to file lawsuits against school districts and CIF.

“The way that we win is through the courts,” Lorey said.

Lorey also said the organization wants CIF to remove transgender athletes’ names from records and rescind the awards and medals they have received.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton was also unable to attend, but Lorey read a statement on his behalf.

“As governor, I will demand the repeal of the provisions of AB [Assembly Bill] 1266 that allow biological males to compete in girls’ sports and enter girls’ locker rooms and spaces,” the statement said. “If the Legislature refuses to act, I will take legal action to defend the constitutional rights of California’s girls to fairness and safe schools.”

Gabrielle Antolovich, board president and CEO at the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center in San Jose, told The Center Square in a phone interview that transgender individuals are often targeted because they represent a very small percentage of athletes and are widely misunderstood.

Antolovich said there are currently about 10 transgender athletes competing in NCAA college sports.

“This is all part of the bigger picture,” Antolovich said. “I don’t believe there is enough research that shows that trans women have an advantage. They are such a tiny part of the population. Not all of them want to play sports, and not all of them are good at sports.”

Antolovich argued that criticism directed at transgender athletes could eventually expand beyond the transgender community.

“Trans women are only the beginning of the attack on all women,” Antolovich said.

“I think what is wrong in America is that it is so competitive to the point where we forget that being a human being is really collegial,” Antolovich added. “Wouldn’t it be lovely to play sports because you love it and not have to be the best of the best and win medals?”

The CIF Southern Section Division 3 preliminaries were held Saturday at Yorba Linda High School as athletes competed for advancement to next week’s sectional championships.

Another LGBTQ+ group was present at the event but declined to comment to The Center Square.