Matt Walsh, a host for the Daily Wire, is set to testify before the California State Assembly on Tuesday in support of a bill aimed at banning males from participating in girls’ sports and using girls’ bathrooms in public schools. This proposed legislation, known as Assembly Bill 844, seeks to reverse a law that has been in place since 2014, which allowed students to engage in sports and use facilities based on their gender identity rather than their biological sex.
The bill, introduced by Republican lawmaker Bill Essayli, would apply to both K-12 public schools and public colleges. It stipulates that participation in sports and access to bathrooms and locker rooms should be determined by a student’s biological sex. Walsh, who will address the California Assembly’s Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism, emphasized the need for fairness in sports and privacy in facilities. He stated, “Girls shouldn’t have to compete with boys or change next to them in locker rooms — this isn’t complicated.”
Interestingly, California Governor Gavin Newsom, who previously supported the 2014 law, has recently shifted his stance. In a podcast, he acknowledged that allowing biological men to compete in women’s sports is “deeply unfair.” This admission has drawn attention, especially considering his earlier support for the law that allowed transgender students to compete based on gender identity.
Despite this shift, Newsom has not publicly commented on Assembly Bill 844, and many expect that the Democratic majority in the Assembly will reject the bill after the hearing. Essayli expressed skepticism about the bill’s chances, predicting that Democrats will oppose it to maintain favor with their progressive supporters.
The issue has sparked significant debate across the country, with critics arguing about the implications for fairness in sports and safety in schools. Female athletes like Taylor Starling, a high school cross-country runner, have shared their experiences of losing opportunities to transgender athletes, raising concerns about competition integrity.
In a recent letter to Newsom, Education Secretary Linda McMahon highlighted the need for California to comply with federal laws regarding gender in sports and facilities, warning that failure to do so could result in the loss of federal funding.
As the discussion continues, the implications of Assembly Bill 844 and the broader debate on gender identity in schools remain a hot topic among parents, lawmakers, and athletes alike.