Newsom Signs Law That Digs In On Biological Boys Playing In Girls’ Sports
Governor Signs Bill Creating Commission, Constituted by All Liberal Appointees, to Prioritize Gender Identity Over Biological Reality
⏱️ 4.5 min read
Just What We Need - A Sports Equity Commission…
Governor Gavin Newsom’s signing of Assembly Bill 749 threatens to dismantle fair competition in California’s youth sports by empowering a commission to prioritize ideological goals over biological reality. This law, cloaked in the language of equity, risks eroding opportunities for female athletes under the guise of inclusion. Its reliance on a panel stacked with liberal appointees employs state power to advance policies that may favor ideological goals over biological facts.
AB 749, authored by Democratic Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, creates a “Blue Ribbon Commission” to study access disparities in youth sports, aiming to ensure equitable access for all, regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, income, or geographic location. The commission, constituted by all appointees of liberals is concerning: 10 members appointed by Newsom, three by the Assembly Speaker, three by the Senate Rules Committee—all selected by Democratic leaders—and the health officer (or designee), who is already a Newsom appointee. Tasked with assessing a centralized youth sports authority by mid-2026, its focus on gender identity suggests a push to reshape rules, despite Newsom’s own acknowledgment that transgender participation in women’s sports can be “deeply unfair.”
A Legislature Focused on Divisive Policies
California’s Democratic-led legislature consistently pursues policies that deepen societal divides, often using state power to enforce ideological priorities. AB 749 exemplifies this, establishing a commission likely to favor progressive goals over scientific evidence. In an open letter to Newsom on September 26, Senate Republican Leader Brian Jones criticized the bill’s approach, stating:
The author and supporters of this bill know that if they were upfront and put forth a straightforward bill allowing biological males to compete against young women and girls, it would be easily defeated. So instead, they are trying to establish a stacked commission to rig the issue in their favor indirectly.
Jones’ critique reveals the strategy: knowing AB 749’s direct approach would fail, its backers rely on a biased panel to tilt the outcome. Science confirms that male puberty confers lasting physical advantages—muscle mass, bone density, strength—not fully mitigated by aberrant hormone therapy, rendering mixed-sex competition unfair and potentially unsafe.
Recent events illustrate the stakes. Last month, Riverside Poly High School’s girls’ volleyball team forfeited a match against a team with a transgender athlete, citing fairness and safety. At the CIF State Track Championships, a biological male dominated girls’ events, sparking protests. These incidents reflect policies that diminish opportunities for female athletes.
Why No Focus on Education’s Failures?
While the legislature invests in redefining sports, California’s public schools struggle despite unprecedented funding—$115 billion in the 2025-26 K-12 budget. Only 49% of students meet English standards, 36% meet math, and chronic absenteeism stands at 20%. Rather than forming commissions to address this educational crisis, where inefficiencies often go unchecked, lawmakers prioritize social policies like AB 749. Why is no panel to investigate why our children lag in core skills despite massive taxpayer investment? This misallocation of focus highlights a preference for ideological battles over practical governance.
Federal Challenges and Public Sentiment
California’s approach conflicts with federal law. The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, led by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, sued the state in July, alleging Title IX violations for allowing biological males in female sports. A DOJ directive to over 1,600 school districts demanded biology-based rules, threatening funding cuts. Public opinion aligns: a Public Policy Institute of California poll shows 65% of Californians, including 71% of parents, support teams based on birth sex. Yet Newsom’s administration persists, risking further division.
So, Does It Matter?
This matters because AB 749 uses government authority to advance policies that undermine fairness in sports, driven by a Democratic-led legislature prioritizing ideology over biology. Female athletes deserve competition based on merit, not rules that erode their opportunities. With federal lawsuits pending and strong public support for sex-based teams, Newsom’s law risks setting a harmful precedent, eroding trust in institutions meant to uphold equity.
Oh yes, what do you think is the outcome when a group of liberals convenes to decide whether to grow government? It’s not complicated math.
Newsom’s signing of this bill is consistent with the latest reinvented version of himself. This one laser-focused on winning over the 4,500 hard-left delegates to the 2028 DNC Convention that will ultimately pick that party’s presidential nominee. Californians deserve leaders who address pressing needs—like fixing failing schools—rather than pursuing divisive policies that compromise fair play for our daughters.
By the way, if you think this is a bad bill, you may want to see if you a represented by one of the 12 Republicans who chose to not even vote on this bill. I draw the conclusion, which is fair, that these 12 GOP legislators are ambivalent about this - which is disturbing. Every Democrat supported it. As I write about bills going forward, I’m going to look this up. Here is a link if you want to see who didn’t care enough about this to vote on it. These are not terrible people, but “laying off” a bill that is bad it a really bad practice. I wrote about it here.