California hearing on bill banning trans girls in sports

A hearing will take place in California regarding a proposed law that aims to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls' sports. The bill, known as AB 89, was announced by Assemblymember Kate Sanchez. It is scheduled for its first hearing on April 1 at 9 a.m. Sanchez stated that allowing transgender athletes in girls' sports is unfair and poses safety concerns for young girls. She emphasized that this issue goes beyond competition, highlighting the need for protection in sports. California's Democratic-led legislature has generally not supported similar measures in the past. However, the topic gained attention recently after Governor Gavin Newsom discussed it on his podcast with conservative activist Charlie Kirk. During the conversation, Newsom acknowledged that the issue is "deeply unfair." When asked if he would support a ban on transgender athletes in women's sports, Newsom did not provide a clear answer. He mentioned he had not reviewed any proposals related to the matter. The hearing will be chaired by Assemblyman Chris Ward, a Democrat and the leader of California's LGBTQ caucus. On the same day that Newsom's podcast episode was released, Ward and the LGBTQ caucus expressed their disappointment over the governor's comments.