Assembly Standing Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism

Good morning. And for those waiting patiently in the room, thank you for your patience. We are waiting for a majority quorum of this Committee as we have to establish our Committee rules before proceeding. We are two Members away from that number and so we'll probably begin in a moment. Thank you. All right.

Good morning again, everybody, and thank you for your patience. We do have a quorum of Members here. I want to welcome you to the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism Committee hearing for Tuesday, April 12025. We do have two items on our agenda today.

And I want to announce that we do have a substitution because of an absent Member. Speaker Robert Rivas will be joining this Committee today as our Committee rules. We're still in review process for our first hearing. Part of our agenda today will include the adopting of the Committee rules. Is there a motion to adopt the proposed Committee rules? We want to establish a quorum. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

We have quorum and I have a motion and a second for establishing the Committee rules. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Okay, thank you. The rules have been adopted. So we've got two important bills on our item here today. And I know this has garnered a lot of attention across the state and certainly here in the Capitol today.

I know that there is a long line of Members of the public also who want to be able to express themselves support outside the Committee hearing room. This is the largest Committee hearing room within the historic capital as well. So we're doing our best. And again, I want to thank everybody for being here today.

Each Bill will have two main witnesses in support and opposition. And each witness may have two minutes. We will take these items, of course, one at a time, beginning with item number one, AB89.

When we get to the part of public testimony where you come up and you want to be able to get state your name, any organization you may represent, and if you have a position of support or oppose, you would state that. We're going to have a microphone set up here near the door.

And so I would ask everybody be able to calmly line up on one side of the room here. And we are going to need to shuffle a little bit because I want to make sure everybody else is able to participate in that part of the hearing as well. So there might be some movement of seats.

There definitely will be A line of people coming in that will also need to be able to exit the hearing room. And in order to be able to facilitate this, we are going to take the support and oppose positions at the same time. So we'll have our hearing, we'll have our statements on support, statements on opposition statements.

And then regardless of where you're at, we don't want this major shuffle. Many of you in the room here support it, many of you oppose it. I can imagine, you know, it get to be a little bit uncomfortable. So we're going to facilitate an orderly processing in the interest of time.

So everybody would be able to have a chance to be able to say their police. And I do want to be able to keep the public comment to 60 Minutes. That's irrespective of the presentations and the deliberations. So that between two items we will be able to be out in time for the session.

Assembly 4 session to begin. So some some level setting beyond that, I invite you to feel free to submit written testimony through our position portal on the Committee's website. It'll become part of the official record of the Bill. And our hearing room today is open for attendance of the hearing this morning.

We are in room 126 at the Capitol. All are encouraged to watch the hearing from its live stream on the Assembly's website. And for those attending in person, please know it's a policy of the Assembly which conduct which disrupts, disturbs or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of the hearing is prohibited.

Any continued disruptions will need to result in individuals being escorted from the Capitol building by Assembly sergeants. And I want to thank you with that. We have the first Bill on our agenda here today. Ms. Sanchez, item number one, AB89.

I invite you to come to the Speaker's podium to be able to make your opening comments if your two witnesses in support would like to join you. And then following that, we can have two witnesses in opposition come to the table as well. And when you are ready, you may begin.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. I am honored here to be here today with you. And I am grateful for the honest and candid conversations we have had about this bill before us today. These are important discussions and I appreciate the willingness to engage with open minds and open hearts.

Let me begin with a question. What would you do if your daughter, your niece, or your sister lost an athletic scholarship not because she wasn't good enough, but because she was forced to compete against a biological male? What if she was injured? What if her dreams were crushed under the weight of a system that was stacked against her? That's not a hypothetical. It's happening right now in our state and across the country. This is certainly not a fringe issue.

A New York Times poll found that nearly 80% of Americans believe biological male athletes should not compete in women's sports, which includes 67% of Democrats. Even Governor Gavin Newsom, widely considered one of the most pro-LGBTQ governors in our state's history, said recently, quote, it's an issue of fairness. It's deeply unfair.

I've been a leader in the LGBTQ space for years, but on the issue of sports, it has exploded. And I think the Democrats have lost that. This matters because it reflects what young female athletes are going through every single day. So what does AB 89 do?

It simply requires California Interscholastic Federation to align with federal policy ensuring that high school girls competitive sports are reserved for biological females. Let's be clear. It is not about hate, it is not about fear, and it's not right wing talking points. This is entirely about fairness, safety, and integrity in girls competitive high school athletics.

That's it. It is long past time we have said that aloud. Since 2014, allowing biological males to compete in girls sports has had devastating consequences. In Ontario, California, a biological male athlete shattered the girls triple jump record and took first place. In Connecticut, two biological male athletes swept first and second in the girls 400 meters state championship.

In Oregon, a biological male won a girls state track title, knocking deserving young women off of the podium entirely. These aren't isolated cases. They are patterns and they are signals. And they're stealing opportunity from our girls who have worked their entire lives for a shot of greatness. And beyond trophies and placements, there are physical injuries as well.

In North Carolina, a 17-year-old girl was knocked unconscious by a spike from a biological male athlete on the opposing volleyball team. In Massachusetts, girls were physically injured during a basketball game, forcing the team to forfeit.

In Half Moon Bay, California, a female volleyball player missed the rest of her senior year season due to injuries sustained from a spike by a biological male. This isn't about fairness. It's about protecting the health and well being and the futures of our daughters. I brought this bill forward because I was in their shoes.

I was a high school competitive athlete and volleyball was my life since fourth grade. That is all I wanted to do. I remember the early mornings and the late nights and the grueling practices and the heartbreak of close games.

I know what it means to pour everything you have in your sport, to make those sacrifices, to show up when no one is watching, and to fight for every inch of progress. But I never had to compete against someone with a biological advantage I could never overcome.

But today's young women do, and I can't imagine how that feels. This bill is for them. It's about standing up and saying, enough, we see you, we believe in you, and we are going to protect you. So here's my ask of you today. I ask you to listen not just with your ears, but with your hearts.

Listen to the brave young women who are here with me today. Listen to the parents and the coaches and the communities who are saying, this is not okay. Testifying with me today will be Jayden, a high school athlete, and Sophia Lorey, a former collegiate athlete and current girls sports advocate with the California Family Council.

Also available to answer technical questions is Dr. Colin Wright, an evolutionary biologist who studies the biology of sex and sex differences. We've all said we want to support women and empower girls. Well, this is our moment to prove it. Let's just not talk about protecting women. Let's actually do it. Thank you.

Thank you. The witnesses will have up to two minutes each as well. And just because of the limitation in space, any technical witnesses don't have to leave right now. But when our opposition comes up, we'll need those seats for the other opposing testimony as well. Technical witnesses are welcome to sit in the front row. You may begin.

My name is Jayden and I'm a female high school student athlete. For years, I've dedicated myself to track and field training for countless hours, pushing my limits and dreaming of competing at the highest level. Through my hard work and dedication, I've worked my way up to being fifth statewide for long jump and eighth for high jump, which increases my likelihood of being recruited for college sports.

Now, my dream of competing at the California State track and field championship in two months is is at risk because a biological male who is currently ranked first place for both long jump and triple jump is allowed to compete in the girls category.

Years of training, of long days on the track and of long weekends at meets, of tough fought victories, all now feel diminished. The opportunities I and so many other female athletes have worked so hard for now feel out of reach. I don't feel like there's such thing as girls sports anymore. It feels wrong.

I don't understand how my hard work, my dedication, my very best can be rendered meaningless by a policy that ignores the differences between males and females. If we keep on the way we're going, it sends a horrible message to young women like me that our achievements can be erased, our opportunities diminished, and our voice is silenced. We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for a fair playing field. Please consider voting for this bill. A suggested solution would be to have an open class for competition. Thank you for your time.

Hello, Committee. I'm Sophia Lorey, California Family Council Outreach Director, and I stand before you today as a former athlete. I began playing soccer at age four. I competed at the highest levels in SoCal club, played four years of senior CIFRST and was captain for three.

This journey culminated in fulfilling my dream of collegiate soccer at Vanguard University of Southern California, a dream that provided scholarships and invaluable lessons. I'm advocating for AB 89 because that dream is being stolen from a generation of girls. Chair Ward, you have stated that we're making a big deal of just a few individuals in girls sports.

Yet even Governor Newsom, who admits this is deep, deeply unfair, told Bill Maher, I can give you example after example just in my home state. So, Chair Ward, let's break down how many girls are affected by even one boy. In soccer, if we had one boy on our team of 25, 25 girls are affected.

The 24 having to play with the boy and the one girl who got cut. If we played 14 games a season, now 350 girls are losing their right to fair and safe sports. Why do you not care about the rights of girls? Why do you not care about our safety? And why won't you protect us?

AB 89 does not ban anyone from sports. It's simple. Everyone gets to play sports on the team that aligns with your sex. Girls losing roster spots to boys isn't inclusive, it's invasive. Letting males take championship spots isn't progress, it's regressive. And forcing girls to include boys on their teams isn't compassionate, it's coercive. Think about your daughters and granddaughters.

How can you look them in the eyes and tell them you voted against their right to fair and safe sports? So vote yes on AB 89 and stand with the overwhelming majority of Americans who recognize this simple truth. Girls deserve to compete fairly and safely against other girls. Thank you.

Thank you. And now we'll have, I think, two witnesses in opposition. Sir, if you wouldn't mind exchanging your seat for the front row. When you're ready, just identify yourself and you'll have up to two minutes each.

Hi, I'm Nicole Peterson. I'm the mom of two teens, one of whom is a varsity water polo player and one of whom is transgender. I lettered in soccer and volleyball under CIF in San Diego, and I competed in NCAA Division 3 in college, and I've coached girls club sports for several years.

Through athletics, I learned teamwork, resilience, and leadership that I've taken into the business world. This same opportunity to learn these life skills should be available for all student athletes. Enforcing AB 89 would be a deterrent for girls. It would require girls to answer invasive personal questions or undergo physical inspections if they want to play sports.

That is a major violation of privacy and ripe for the type of sexual abuse that already plagues female sports at all levels. If passed, the CIF rule would also invite people to question the gender of girls who don't look stereotypically feminine, leading to more harassment and bullying.

Emboldened by legislation like this, the soccer team of an 8 year old girl was disqualified from finals in Nebraska when someone complained she was a boy due to her short hair. And a Utah school board member accused a high school basketball player of being transgender because of her larger build.

That girl was then targeted by online threats and harassment. This ugliness is unsportsmanlike and unsafe. Passing AB 89 would put every girl who wants to play school sports in harm's way. Sports Ban Targeting transgender teenagers are indeed part of a cruel effort by anti-LGBTQ hate groups to stigmatize, isolate, and further marginalize already vulnerable children.

CIF sports were critical for my own physical and mental health. Please oppose this legislation which will further stigmatize and cause harm to children like mine. California should be improving the well being of all students, not harming their mental health nor creating a hostile environment. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair and members. My name is Rhiannon Mulligan. I hold a Master's in Gender Studies and a Master's in Sociology from the University of Cambridge. My dissertations focused on the interaction of gender, queerness, and athletics. I am also an athlete. I am a six time NCAA medalist, an All American, and I've competed at some of the highest levels in rowing and I've counted Olympians among my teammates. This positions me uniquely to oppose this bill today.

All too often when we see legislation such as this targeting Trans youth and trying to remove them from sport in the name of fairness and safety, the loudest voices in the room are not those of athletes. Most athletes, if we were to answer you truthfully, would tell you that sports are inherently unfair.

Each athlete's body responds differently to stimulus and nutrition, some athletes naturally build muscle more easily, or we sit at a lower body fat percentage, or we're simply taller. For rowers, I'm short. I am 5 foot 10. We don't exclude people from sports because of their height.

We don't test athletes and see whether they were born with specific biological advantages, such as longer limbs, higher than average flexibility, or an improved and unusual ability to process oxygen. And we certainly don't exclude these people from sports. Instead, they become Katie Ledecky's and Michael Phelps.

Reducing sports, and especially success in sports, to supposed inherent biological advantages does a disservice to all athletes by negating the skill and hard work that goes into being athletically successful. Athleticism is not solely determined by genetics. There is simply no evidence that Trans women and girls are dominating sports.

Sometimes they win, but sometimes they lose, just like any other athlete. In every sport, there are significantly more losers than there are winners. And there is no evidence that cisgender girls are missing out on scholarships because of Trans girls. As someone who has actually been recruited for athletics, the general public vastly overestimates the number of scholarships and recruiting spots available.

Can I have one concluding sentence?

Yes. The truth is, most transgender students just want to play sports for the same reason other students do, to be part of a team where they feel like they should belong. We should make more young people want to play sports and learn the lifelong lessons it teaches, not put up more barriers for girls that subject them to invasive interrogation or make them risk public ridicule.

Thank you.

Yeah. And then Alice Kessler is here for technical questions.

Thank you very much. At this time, we're going to take public testimony up here near the dais. I'll ask the sergeants to go ahead and lift the mic for the public comment. And just in a orderly fashion, we all know how to do it. If you would like to be able to come up and register a position of support or opposition, now is the time to do so. We request that you say your name, organization, if you have an affiliation and your position.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Members. I'm Alice Kessler. I'm an attorney with Greenberg Traurig. I'm here representing Equality California. And if there are any technical questions as the discussion continues, I'm happy to be on hand. Thank you. And oppose the bill. Thank you.

Hello. My name is Tori Hitchcock. I'm a senior at Cal Baptist, and I'm a Young Woman for America ambassador. And I am in support of this bill. I'm also a former athlete.

Hello. My name is Sarai McCullough. I am also a Young Women for America ambassador and a former athlete of martial arts for over 10 years and I am in support of this bill.

Hello, my name is Natalie Mendez. I'm also a part of Young Women for America and a former athlete and I am in support of this bill.

Good morning, my name is Erin Friday. I'm a mother of a daughter who used to believe that she was a boy. I am representing LGB Alliance, Gays against Groomers, LGB Courage Coalition, Democrats for an Informed Approach to Gender, Genspect, and Our Duty, and we strongly support this bill.

Hi, my name is Zach Hadwick. I'm a junior at Lodi High School and I am ijn support of this bill.

My name is Jordan Brace, I'm a junior in high school. I am a track and cross country athlete and I am in support of this bill.

Hello, my name is Caroline Lorey. I'm a mother of four who played CIF and my daughter is a soccer player and so I strongly urge you to vote yes on this bill. Thank you.

Good morning. Greg Abdosh, candidate for the 45th district for the Assembly and I'm in strong support of this bill because our daughters deserve to play.

Good morning. Gina Gleason with Real impact and co-chair of the repeal of AB 1266 and I am in support of this bill. We had almost 620,000 signers on the repeal keeping boys out of girls restrooms and sports.

Karen England, Capitol Resource Institute and co chair of privacy for all and for the first time ever, Gavin Newsom and I agree. We want to support women and we want it to be fair and you need to protect the privacy of all girls.

Thank you. Name, organization and position.

Hi, I'm Steven Bourasa with the Log Cabin Republicans of Sacramento and we strongly support this bill.

I'm Emily Stiles, a teacher and a mother and a mother of a daughter and I strongly urge support of this bill.

Hi, my name is [inaudible]. I'm a former athlete, college student. I'm with California Family Council and I am strongly supporting this bill.

Hello, my name is Mark Esquibel. I'm with Dad Talk Today and National Family Justice. I have three daughters, the youngest of which is 10. I'm in support of this bill. You have one opportunity to do the right thing. Thank you. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Deborah Rosenbloom. I'm the proud mother of a student athlete and I strongly support this bill and her safety and right to fair. Thank you. Fair competition. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Sabrina Williams. I represent Mom Army, hundreds of Sacramento and Placer county residents. We vote for this bill. Please pass it. I'm a mother of seven, a grandmother of three, and this is very important.

Thank you. Good morning. My name is Courtney. I am a battalion with mom army. And this is my daughter Riley. She is a frequent visitor here at the Capitol. She plays sports as well.

At five years old, I'm also a mom to two boys and a stepson and a stepdaughter who also have been very prevalent in sports their entire life. And we just want to say we oppose this or. Excuse me. We support this Bill. And can you say, I support? No. Okay. It's okay. Thank you.

Hello, my name is Amber Arias. I'm a ministry leader of Stand Up Calvary Chapel, Solano County. I'm a former athlete. I'm an aunt to female athletes. I'm a mother to female athletes. And I'm just asking that you guys vote for common sense. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm Tara Thornton, mother and co-founder of Freedom Angels. And we represent people in 58 counties across the state. Please support the bill. We're in strong support of AB 89.

Denise Aguilar, Co founder of Freedom Angels. We are presenting thousands of parents across the State of California. Thank you.

Kathie Moehlig, she/her, with Trans Family Support Services, also the parent of a Trans athlete. I ask you to oppose this bill along with Mike Dilloway, Daniela Abbott, Cotti Lamone, and Renee Bernardo. Thank you.

Hello, I'm Katie Johnson. I'm here as a parent and youth. Soccer coach and also here on behalf of a large network of parents of Trans and non-binary kids, Rainbow Action. Please oppose this bill. Thank you. And protect all girls in their involvement with sports. Thank you.

I'm Caitlyn Rowan. I'm an advocate for transgender human rights and also a former martial artist. And I oppose this bill.

Thank you.

I'm Sue Staats. I'm a grandmother of a transgender boy and I strongly oppose this bill. Thank you.

Hi, I'm Susanna Staats, mother of a Trans son who is an enthusiastic but not very good fencer. And I strongly oppose this bill.

Hi, my name is Amy Wren. I'm representing Rainbow Families Action. I'm a mother, I'm a former NCAA Full Ride scholarship recipient and I'm in strong opposition of this bill.

Hi, my name is Phoebe Salas Lopez. I'm a freshman in high school. I play flag football and I support this bill.

My name is Monique Lopez and I represent Whittier Parent Alliance and we are for this bill.

Good morning. My name is Roger Nunes and as the parent of a young girl who did sports, I strongly support this bill.

Hi, my name is Stephanie Nunes and I am the mother of a young girl. I'm so proud of you, Jayden. The courage you've shown. Strongly support this bill. And I care about women grew up in the 70s and 80s. Thank you. Feminism.

Hi, my name is Jess Carlson and I represent Rainbow Families and I strongly oppose this bill.

Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Shanna Connor. I'm the parent of a young transgender girl and I vehemently oppose this bill.

Hi, my name is Alexandra Vicati. I'm the mother of two boys, two girls, including a cisgender female NCAA athlete. I strongly oppose this bill. Thank you.

Hello, my name is Elizabeth Stohl and I'm the mother to two kids, including a biological daughter who is a active participant in sports and I represent Equality California. I vehemently oppose this bill. Thank you.

Hi, my name is, parent of two. I oppose this divisive bill.

Hi there. My name is Randy Jose and I strongly oppose this bill.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is David and I strongly oppose this bill.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is Laura. I'm the proud mother of a daughter and a son and I strongly, strongly oppose this bill.

Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Tammy Shaw. I'm a mom of two athletes and I'm here to support my friends and their children and I strongly oppose this bill. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Laura West and I strongly oppose this bill. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi. My name is Kim Mcilnay. I'm a physician, former athlete, former coach and I strongly oppose this bill.

Hi, my name is Oona Hatton. I am the co-artistic Director of Davis Repertory Theatre. I'm also a professor at San Jose State University and I vehemently oppose this bill. Thank you.

My name is Airy Krich-Brinton. I'm the mother of a multi-year girl soccer player and she and we strongly oppose this bill. Thank you.

My name is Ryan Starling. I'm a father of two athletes, one who's testifying here and I strongly support this bill.

Thank you.

I'm Elizabeth De Janeiro and I oppose this bill. Thank you.

Hi. Eve Banas on behalf of the Sacramento LGBT Community Center in strong opposition. Also sharing opposition for Orange County Equality Coalition, GUSD Parents for Public Schools, Pride at the Pier, Radiant Health Centers, gender affirming professionals, Our Schools USA, Our Schools USA Los Angeles, Tom Haman LGBTQ Law Association, Unitarian Universalist Church, Center for Immigration Protection, the LGBT Asylum Project and Par of our Bay Area. Thank you.

Thank you.

Nicole Morales, she/her. As a proud Trans woman who transitioned as a teenager, I am in support of this bill. I also, I support this bill on behalf of Children Now as well as PFLAG Sacramento, Gender Justice LA, Phoenix Coalition, Diversity Collective Ventura County, A Seat at the Table Books, PFLAG Manhattan Beach South Bay, Solano Pride, API Equality LA, and a Visible Palo Alto. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Stacy Petterson with Family Research Council, and I strongly support this bill. Thank you.

Morning. My name is Eric Wiesenthal. I'm proud father of two daughters. I'm also on the board of Women Democrats of Sacramento County and we strongly oppose this bill.

Thank you.

I'm Julie Chapman. I'm here for Indivisible Sacramento and Women Democrats of Sacramento County, and we oppose this bill.

Thank you.

Hi, good morning. My name is Melissa Aiden. I am a mother of three, including a cisgender female athlete, and I strongly oppose this bill.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm Tammy Truer and I strongly oppose this Bill.

My name is Greg Abdouch. I'm standing up in place of Sonja Shaw, School Board President for Chino Valley, also candidate for State Superintendent of Public Education. Also, the mother of two female athletes, and she's in strong—yes on this Bill.

Thank you. I get it.

Hello. My name is Deanna de Janeiro. I'm a mother and I'm an aunt. I'm also a female sports player myself and was as a kid, and I strongly, strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

My name is Richard de Janeiro. I'm a California voter and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Anuradha Gupta. My pronouns are she/her. I'm the President of PFLAG Danville San Ramon Valley Chapter, and on behalf of PFLAG Danville San Ramon Valley Chapter, PFLAG Fresno, PFLAG Oakland-East Bay, PFLAG Tri Valley, PFLAG Sacramento, PFLAG Clayton-Concord, CA Stop Moms for Liberty, Art of Living San Ramon, I strongly, strongly oppose this Bill. Thank you.

Thank you.

I apologize. I meant to oppose the Bill on behalf of Children Now. We are in strong opposition of this Bill. We are also—on behalf of the organizations in opposition: PFLAG Sacramento, Gender Justice LA, Phoenix Coalition, Diversity Collective - Ventura County.

Thank you. I think we have the letter on file. Thank you.

Okay. In opposition.

Hi, my name is Heather Hildreth. I am the proud mother of a transgender daughter, and along with my husband, Scott Hildreth, and members of my parent support group for parents of transgender children, Maya Goering Harris, Kat Cassier, Emily Luton, Michael Luton, Olivia Higgins, and Jake Avedon, we strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

Good morning. I am Lilac Hildreth. I am a college student and former student athlete, and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Jack Entwistle I'm a senior in high school, athlete, and I strongly support this Bill.

Thank you.

Hello, Assembly Members. Tom Temprano, here on behalf of Equality California, in strong opposition to this Bill. Also here on behalf of the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network, the Rainbow Community Center, Indivisible El Dorado, and Norcal Resist, who are all in strong opposition to this Bill. Thank you.

Good morning. Craig Pulsipher for the Equality California, here on behalf of the Landing Spot - Placer LGBTQ Center, Trans Families of Silicon Valley, Trans Families of Santa Cruz, Olive Branch Enterprise, Davis Trans Station, all in strong opposition.

Thank you.

My name is Miriam. I have trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and aikido, and I'm here on behalf of Californians for Sex-based Evidence in Policy and Law, as well as Cheek Swords Are Not Invasive. I am in full support of this Bill. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Michaela Swaney and I am here as a mother, and with the 1776 Echo, and I am strongly in support of this Bill.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is Emmett Adams. I am 18 years old. I am a newly registered Democrat, I am a gay man, and I support this Bill.

Thank you.

Hello, I'm Jean Chadbourne. I'm a mother, a high school teacher, a former CIF athlete, a Democrat—lifelong Democrat. I'm here on behalf of Women are Real, Women's Declaration International, Women's Liberation Front, Independent Council on Women's Sport, and I strongly support this Bill.

Thank you.

Good morning. I'm Reverend Sharon Henry of Reflection Metropolitan Community Church, former collegiate athlete as well, and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Good morning. My name is Sandy and I am one of We the People, and mother of a God-ordained female volleyball player. I, as well as my husband, and the many common-sense citizens instruct you to support this Bill. Thank you.

Morning. Faith Lee, with Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California. We're in oppose.

Hi, my name is Lauren Fernandez. I'm a mother of two and a former NCAA athlete, and I strongly oppose this Bill

Good morning. I'm Karen Humphrey. I represent the National Women's Political Caucus of California. We strongly oppose this Bill. It's unnecessary and cruel and we ask you to, thank you, vote no. Thank you.

Hi, my name's Jackie Corrigan, and I'm the mother of transgender and cisgender kids, and I strongly oppose this Bill. We don't need legislation. It's been handled in the past and it's being done successfully.

Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Dr. Emily Mitchell. I am an Educator in the California Community College System, and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Mire Pearson. I am a proud grandmother and great grandmother of many kids, and I strongly support this Bill. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is Emily Weeks. I am a ciswoman, the daughter of a retired career minister, a former four-year Varsity Cheerleader Captain, with an additional two years competing at the national level, and many years of training in Krav Maga. I strongly oppose this Bill.

I'm also here to oppose on behalf of my partner, former athlete and non binary Trans person, Saad Levin.

Hi, my name is Annalee Snister. I'm from Placer County, and I would just like you to support AB 89. Thanks.

Hi, my name is Katherine Mcbride, Placer County, and I'm with We the People and also mother of three, including a daughter that played field hockey throughout high school and college, and I strongly support AB 89. Save women's sports. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm Sharon Rich. I have two wonderful daughters. I oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm Trevor Norcross. I'm a father to a transgender daughter, and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

My name is Lauren Farber. I played sports in high school and college, and I'm in support of this Bill.

Thank you.

My name is Izzy and I, I play basketball, and I support this Bill.

Thank you.

Good morning. I'm Becky Albaugh. I live in Lassen County, and I am Isabella's mother and the mother of four student athletes, and I support this Bill. Thank you.

Hello. My name is Lexi Shepard. I'm a junior at Big Valley Junior Senior High School. I play varsity basketball and varsity volleyball, and I am in support of this Bill. Thank you.

Good morning. Jonathan Clay Here on behalf of the Alliance for Trans Youth Rights, in Opposition.

Thank you.

My name is Colleen Britton. I'm with the California Leaders Network, California Action, and for Legislative Accountability, and we're strongly in support of this Bill. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

My name is Catalina Zambrano. I am a proud trans woman. I am the Executive Director of Cal Pride via Central, and I oppose this Bill.

My name is Elizabeth Cronin. I'm a lifelong Democrat, 30-year Member of California Teachers Association with Women are Real. I support this Bill.

Thank you.

My name is Sabrina Eberly, and I play volleyball, rugby, and do track and field, and I'm in support of this Bill.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Rich Eberly. I'm a father of student athletes, and I support this Bill.

Thank you.

Good morning. I'm Don Basiano with Sac Woman Dems. I—we—strongly oppose this piece of legislation. Let's just get back to being decent humans.

Thank you.

Molly Sheen with the California Catholic Conference. Our letter was late, but we are in support of this Bill. Thank you.

Thank you.

David Bollog, on behalf of the 75% of California's polled in the affirmative of this legislation, we are all in support. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi. Melissa Batie-Smoose, former Coach at San Jose State. Fired for standing up for women and women's sports and my team.

Thank you.

In support.

Sarah Martinez, a concerned mom with the high school and college athletes. And I'm strongly supporting this Bill.

Thank you.

I'm Haley Page from Placer County, and I'm in strong support of this Bill.

Thank you.

Tyra Thompson, she/they. I'm a Mental Health Advocate for trans youth, and a former collegiate water polo athlete, and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

Thank you. Hi, I'm L.R. Roberts. I've given birth twice. I have six great granddaughters. I'm against this Bill and I'm also against AB 844, and I'm on the Central Committee of the Peace and Freedom Party.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Maria Malvis, and I represent the Badassery Group from Sacramento, and we strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

Ryan Souza, on behalf of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, APLA Health, and Grace in Child Poverty, in strong opposition.

Thank you.

Good morning. Delilah Clay, on behalf of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, in strong opposition.

Thank you.

Good morning. Carmen Nicole Cox, on behalf of ACLU California Action, in vehement opposition. Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm Jenny Anser and I oppose this Bill profusely.

Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Katie Dixon. I am a community advocate here with Equality California. I strongly oppose this Bill. Thank you.

Lance Christianson. I'm here on my own behalf and as a father of five scholar athletes in California, including my two young daughters here. I support AB 89. Thank you, Assemblymember Sanchez.

I'm Jen Wiersma, a Trustee in Temecula, where we passed 5 - 0 decision to support AB 89.

Thank you.

Brina Sheehy representing PIRC Advocacy and Orange County Board of Education Trustee, Mari Barke.

Thank you.

In support.

Hi, Elizabeth Kenney from Oakland, California. I am here in support of—hold on, I can't see it—AB 44 and AB 89. Thank you. Do the right thing.

My name is Barbara Walker. I'm here with Women Are Real. I'm here in support of AB 44 and AB 89.

We're on AB 89 right now.

Hello, my name is Jared Thaler and I'm here representing Everyday Heroes Organized Play. And we strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

Hi, good morning. Liz Oseguera with the California Alliance, representing 160 organizations that support children and youth, in strong opposition. Thank you.

My name is Jen Drewick. I'm a teacher and a parent. In strong opposition. Thanks.

Thank you.

My name is Robert Trotty and I'm in strong opposition to this Bill. Thank you.

Katherine Darrow, in strong opposition to the Bill.

Thank you.

Sophia Usher, in strong opposition.

Thank you.

Dean Wild, in strong opposition. Please stop trying to ban trans girls from sports.

Kira Young, soccer player, female athlete, strong support. Nicole Young, Placer County Chapter Chair of Moms for Liberty, as well as the Legislative Chair for Placer County Moms for Liberty, as well as California. Strong support. I represent over 50,000 parents. Thank you.

Thank you.

Lori Miller Sungren, former CIF and NCAA Division 1 athlete, in full support of this Bill.

Thank you.

Beth Bourne, I represent Moms for Liberty Yolo County. I was a lifelong Democrat. My son competes in CIF sports, and I strongly support this Bill.

Thank you.

Christine Goff, I'm a supporter of our duty in Democrats for an informed approach to gender, and I strongly support this Bill.

Thank you.

Emily Travis, I'm the mom of three former high school athletes, and I strongly support this Bill.

Thank you.

Mike Murray, with American Council, girls softball and basketball coach, in support of this Bill.

Thank you.

Greg Burt, Vice President of the California Family Council, in support. Thank you.

Thank you.

Dominic Belza from Marysville, and I've got three young girls that are growing up, and I want to encourage your support for this Bill. So, for them and also for all young women and girls in the state.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Julie Kidd, and I coach children and youth sports, and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

My name is Allison Pennington. I have two daughters in public schools in California, and I strongly oppose this Bill. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi. Christine Campbell, concerned parent, and strong support.

Daniel Campbell, student athlete, and I strongly support this Bill.

Thank you.

Pastor Brandon Campbell, California Baptist for Biblical Values, Northern California Director, and Pastor of the Faith Baptist Church in Wheatland, in support of this Bill.

Emily Campbell, with Freedom's Way Baptist Church, and I strongly support this Bill.

Brock Campbell, on behalf of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Santa Maria, I strongly support.

Thank you.

Suzanne Jarmish, three time varsity athlete and I currently play two sports here in Sacramento. I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Riley Serta. I've played roller derby with the Women's Flat Track Derby Association for 10 years and have thrived under its gender-inclusive structure. And I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

I'm Becca Nelson, and I'm a youth mental health care worker and an athlete playing, and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Riley Carrillo Wagner. I'm currently a history PhD student at UC Davis and a trans athlete. I strongly oppose this Bill.

Hey, folks, my name is Candace Kefauver. I've had the privilege of being a Public Servant for the last 15 years, and I'm also a skater with Sacramento Roller derby. We strongly oppose this Bill. Thank you.

Thank you.

My name is Tiffany, and my trans freshman is the slowest girl on her track team. On behalf of her, her peers, and Sacramento Rainbow Kids, I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

My name is Alicia Rigby. I'm a mother of two public school students and a nurse practitioner. I strongly oppose this Bill. Girls do not need oppression disguised as protection.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Margo Engels. I am a registered Democrat in this state, since 1978, and I represent a group called the Gender Self ID Public Debate Society. Because Gender Self ID passed in this state without any public debate.

And it's happening now. Yes, we, my society is very much in favor of this Bill.

And your position?

Thank you.

Good morning. I'm Lisa Disbrow. I'm a retired public-school teacher over these issues. I'm a swim mom of a boy and a girl, and I'm the leader of the Contra Costa Moms for Liberty and Informed Parents of Contra Costa, and we support this Bill.

Thank you.

Sylvia Bulkley here, of Patriots of Contra Costa County, and I strongly oppose this Bill as well. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Jack Bellegarde. I am with the Republican Party of Contra Costa County, and I strongly support this Bill. Thank you.

Hi. Elisa Overholt. I'm with Women's Liberation Front. Strongly support this Bill.

My name is Cynthia Cravens, and I am a lifelong liberal, and a registered Democrat in San Francisco. And I am with Cause Californians United for Sex-Based Evidence and Policy and Law. I'm also with Women are Real. What a concept. I am very much in favor of this Bill. Thank you so much.

Hi, I'm Sherry Brown from Oakland. I was a Democrat for many years. I actually switched parties over this issue. I'm now a registered Republican and I strongly support passage of this Bill. Fairness, dignity, and safety for girls.

Thank you.

I'm Christina Lee, voter, and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

My name is Sherry Lee and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

My name is Amanda Covetana. I'm a lesbian and a Democrat residing in San Mateo County, and I strongly support this Bill. I was a competitive swimmer.

Thank you very much.

And I am insulted by this.

Hello everyone. My name is Sarah Kim. On behalf of TV Next and thousands of followers of all the Asian and multiethnic groups, we strongly, strongly support this Bill, because safety of girls...

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Timothy Kim. I'm on behalf of TV Next. Essence of sports is fairness and safety. So, I strongly support this Bill.

Thank you.

Katherine Squire, on behalf of the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. In opposition.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is Leo Jacobson. I'm a voter and trans person, and I strongly oppose this Bill. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello, Honey Mahogany, a co-founder of the Transgender District, and a social worker, and I oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is Jocelyn Wagner. I'm a skater with Bay Area Derby, a trans athlete, and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is Wesley Hack. I am with Bay Area Derby. I am a trans athlete, and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Hello, I'm Ozin Kiamoli, a skater with Bay Area Derby, and strongly oppose this Bill.

Hello, my name is Carlos Lopez, with the California School Employees Association, in strong opposition of this Bill.

Hello, my name is Sunil Wijayasekara. I'm a Democrat and I strongly support the Bill.

Thank you.

Hello, I'm Heather Rogue, I'm a stand-up comedian, and I strongly oppose this Bill.

My name is Acacia Keith. I'm a Sacramento community member and I strongly oppose this Bill. Thank you.

Hello, I'm Jessica Gachet with PFLAG San Jose Peninsula, and we strongly oppose this Bill. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is Johanna Lawler, and I am an 8th grade volleyball player, and I strongly support this Bill.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Kelly Lawler. I'm a parent and I strongly support this Bill.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Melania de Janeiro. I'm a 16-year-old student at FCS High in Yuba City, and I am here representing my volleyball and cheer team, and I'm also here representing my little sister, Alessandra, who is nine years old and plays soccer, and we are in support.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Florentina de Janeiro, and I'm here representing Freedom Coalition Mom Army, and Church of Glad Tidings in Yuba City, and we're in full support.

Thank you.

I'm Zan Joy from Oakland, California and I'm one of those women who fought for girls to be able to play soccer, because soccer was only for boys when I was young, and I fought for title 9. Also, I support AB 44.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Katie Houston. I'm a licensed marriage and family therapist, and a board-certified behavior analyst. I work in a K through 12 program, and I oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Lily Massey. I'm a transgender senior at Natomas Charter School, and I strongly oppose this Bill, because I just want to protect our rights and what we have.

Good morning. I'm Denny Massey. I'm the parent of two trans children, adults at this point, and I oppose the bill.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is Rachel Freund. I'm a professional person from Sacramento, California, and I strongly oppose this hateful legislation. Thank you.

Hello, my name is Ray Hughes. I work at the library at the North Highlands Antelope Library, and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

And none of us are free until all of us are free.

Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Spectre D. Clarke. I'm here with the Davis Phoenix Coalition to speak out in opposition against these two dangerous anti-trans bills.

Thank you.

Good morning. Genesis Gonzalez. On behalf of Lieutenant Governor, Eleni Kounalakis, in opposition. Thank you.

Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Lavon Urbano and I'm the parent of a girl who thinks she's a boy, and I support this Bill.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Marla Tucker, I'm the California State Director of Concerned Women for America, and we represent thousands of women and families across California, and we strongly support this Bill.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Noelle Fitchett, with Concerned Women for America and Young Women for America. I'm a former high school soccer varsity player, as well as a softball player, and I strongly support this Bill.

Good morning. My name is Leslie Thompson. I'm a native Californian and a stepmom, and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

Good morning. I'm Annaleigh Barnard. I'm a UC Davis student athlete and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

My name is Claudia Critch. I'm a longtime Cal—I was born and raised in California, a retired teacher. I strongly, vehemently oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

My name is Keith Brinton. I'm a resident of Davis, a retired nurse practitioner, and I have a trans athlete in my extended family. I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is Reese Morris. I'm a resident of Folsom. I have five children that will be affected by this Bill. I'm a member of Californians United for Sex-Based Evidence in Policy and Law, and for my daughters, I strongly support this Bill.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Amy Anderson. I live in Orangeville, also a mother of five. And I am with Californians United for Sex-Based Evidence in Policy and Law, and I strongly support this Bill for all of our daughters.

Hi, I'm Charlotte Johnson. I'm a mom. I support this Bill. Take the off ramp that Governor Newsom gave you all.

Thank you.

Good morning. I'm Cherise Estelle. I have quite a few children and grandchildren, chosen through foster care as well, and I support this Bill, and with Concerned Women of America. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Rebecca Mark. I'm a seventh-grade athlete and I support this Bill.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is Meg Mark. I have three children. I represent Cause Californians United for Sex-Based Evidence in Policy and Law, and Women Are Real. I also represent Gianna Burke, Audra Starrett, Amy Rush, Genevieve Polisi, Matson Breaky, Laura Dixo, and Arthur Mark in support of bringing back socanity.

Thank you.

Support of this Bill.

Hello, my name is Alex Judd. I am a non-binary resident of Citrus Heights, and a former high school athlete, and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm Raymi Kemp, and I have a lot of loved ones who are both trans and non-binary, and some of them, some of them are minors, and I do not support this Bill.

Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Ty Polskamp. I'm from Amador County. Using children as collateral for this bargaining point on equality is shameful. I oppose this Bill.

Hi, my name is Lisa Smith, and born and raised lifetime Californian, and I wholeheartedly support this Bill. It's time to give support for our children.

My name is Gabrielle Hudland. I grew up in Alameda County. On behalf of my family and Equality California, I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

My name is Casey Maples, also known as Casey Shane. I'm a community member, government worker and I strongly oppose this Bill. Thank you.

Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Ryan Sladek and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Nicole Vance. I'm a pediatric nurse here in California and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

My name's Julia Taylor, educator, and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Hello, my name is Liam. I'm an army veteran, former law enforcement officer, parent to two kids and I have a great loving partner. I strongly oppose this Bill.

Thank you.

My name is Noah Hoffman. I'm non-binary. As a former varsity captain of two women's sports, including one state champion winning team, I think this Bill is discriminatory and against the spirit of sportsmanship. I strongly oppose this Bill.

Cassie Mancini here as a former high school and college athlete, in strong opposition.

Thank you.

Tiffany Mok, on behalf of CFT, in opposition. Thank you.

Thank you.

Good morning. David Shapiro, Chief of Staff of the California Department of Education here on behalf of Superintendent Tony Thurmond, who is in strong opposition to both bills.

My name is Erica Noll. I am a teacher. I am also a mother of five daughters who are athletes and I am in support of these bills.

Thank you.

My name is Christopher Noll. I am a middle school student and I support this Bill.

I'm Kimberly Noll. I'm a high school student and an athlete and I support these two bills.

Hello, my name is Tiffany Noll. I'm a high school student and I'm an athlete and I support these two bills.

Heather Gibson. I have two daughters and I am in support of these bills.

Hi, my name is Vincent O'Brien Guerrero. I'm a practicing family physician here in Sacramento. On behalf of the mental and physical health of my patients, I oppose this Bill. Thank you.

Hello, my name is Allison Wisa. I'm an ally to the trans community and I strongly oppose these two bills.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Anna Martinez and I strongly oppose these hateful bills.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Amy Madenberg. I'm a citizen of California and a board certified pediatrician and a parent. And on behalf of the well-being and health of all children, I strongly oppose this Bill. Thank you.

My name is Laura Callan. I'm a California voter. I'm the mom of two teens and there are friends and family members of mine who would be harmed by this hateful Bill. I strongly oppose it.

Thank you.

Good morning. My name is T. Hokobian. And on behalf of Tulare Coalition for Freedom, Blessings of Liberty, Unmasked Tulare County, Calvary Visalia, Rock Harbor Church Bakersfield, Keep Them Safe, Stand up Zach County and authors of can they just have their own league so everyone can be at peace? We stand in complete support for AB86. Thank you so much. Hope you have a blessed day. Thank you.

My name is Maddie Roby. My pronouns are they/them. I'm with Trans Family Support Services and I strongly oppose this Bill. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Anna Murray and I strongly oppose this Bill. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Mia Ho Pulay and I oppose this Bill. Thank you. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Emily Desroche Padron. I'm a librarian. I'm also an athlete who has many trans teammates and plays with trans people. I'm a cis woman and I strongly oppose this nonsensical Bill.

My name is True Surdi and I strongly support this Bill.

Thank you.

My name is Kyson Serdi and I strongly support this Bill.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Melissa Surdi. I am a mom to three beautiful children and I strongly, strongly support this Bill. Thank you. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Carla De Janeiro. I'm the mom of two daughters and I strongly oppose this hateful, disgusting Bill. Thank you, Mr.

Mr. Chair and Members, Sylvia Solis Shah here. On behalf of the City of West Hollywood, in strong opposition. Thank you. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Dr. Joanna Sheb. I'm a researcher, not an MD. My area of research is on reproduction and gender development. I strongly oppose this hateful Bill that will target children.

We've reached our end of our line.

Hi, my name is Ben Hudson. I'm a community organizer. I'm like second or 22nd generation queer. Some of you are as well. You know, you need to decide what kind of California you want to live in. I already decided what California I want to live in. When we pass these policies.

Thank you, sir. We can't take a disruption, sir. We can't have a disruption. Thank you. Thank you. Here. Long before you were ever here, sitting in these seats. We are with these protections. Thank you.

We protected Trans people in California. You decided our side. You hear me?

Okay. With that, public comment is concluded and we will bring it back to the dais. I'm going to take the chair's prerogative to maybe begin some of our discussion. I do want to thank everybody for coming, and I understand very much that this is very important to every individual that thinks critically about this issue.

I know it's deeply personal. I know that there's a lot of tension. I know there's a lot of different ways of thought. And at some point, I think some people consider it something very core to their beliefs and something that's very moral to them.

And that's true, I think regardless of some of the perspectives that people are bringing to this subject. I do think about this topic through several lenses. I'm a representative from my home district. I am the chair of this Committee. I am the chair of the LGBT Caucus, and all those are temporary positions.

I am also the proud dad of a young girl who is an amazing athlete, and that's a permanent position. And I have to think often about the, the decisions and the language and the votes that we take up here through that lens because I, more than anything, want to be able to explain my record at the end of the day to her.

I hope that we can all agree that every student deserves the opportunity to benefit from youth athletics. You get teamwork, you get confidence, you get accomplishment, you get memories, you get positive development.

And this year, we of course, seen a number of Bills that aren't particularly targeting to spotlight, target, and repeal the rights of transgender individuals and standards that have been in some place for some time without much notice until recent. This Bill, AB89, is one of those bills.

It relies on a premise that transgender youth participating in sports alongside their friends is threat to their success and their achievements through youth athletics. But safeguarding youth sports isn't achieved by demonizing one of the smallest parts of the population.

If we want to protect youth sports, especially girls and women's sports, there are a lot of different approaches that I wish a Bill would have taken form to find consensus in this Committee. First, we must provide equitable funding for girls sports.

We must ensure that girls sports receives the same resources, facilities, and opportunities and same level and manner in which boys sports are funded. Second, we must diminish the harassment of players online and in person.

We have seen an increase in adults stalking young athletes from game to game or meet to meet, following them around, taking photos or videos of them with the intent to intimidate them and dox them online. And this is true for both transgender and cisgender girl athletes.

And third, we must combat the exploitation and abuse by coaches and support staff. Reports have noticed that young athletes have experienced forms of sexual abuse or harassment, physical and emotional abuse, neglect and exploitation, and financial gain. None of those are what AB89 does. And in fact, in practice, it creates more harm and danger for all girl athletes.

Transgender and cisgender alike by actually working against those last two points. Similar legislation in the State of Kansas, now law, has authorized the invasive genital inspections of girls accused of being transgender. Maybe they have more muscle mass or they're considered less feminine.

The same is true in the State of Idaho, where not just body inspections but chromosomal testing could be authorized. The State of Texas is suing the NCAA to require examinations or chromosomal testing.

And the same is true in Utah, where a school board member doxed a teen cisgender girl online, posting her name, photo and other personal information accusing her of being transgender. And as a result, the entire school had to ramp up security and the teen girl was placed under police protection.

Even here in California, despite our existing law, I'd argue because of the sensationalizing of this issue, similar threats have caused incidents requiring public safety response at our school. This hysteria needs to stop. To quote one mother of a girl harassed because how she looked and performed "this has destroyed our beautiful daughter's confidence

and she was inconsolably crying during this whole event and continued once it was over and we were leaving. Not to mention she was unable to concentrate on her track and field finals and the shot put throw for which she had qualified".

It sickens me that we normalized that the cruelty is the point and that the collateral impact affects all girls and it can be tolerated. Legislation and promulgation that will undoubtedly increase harassment, doxing, targeting and attempted violence against all girls, no matter if they are transgender or cisgender needs to stop.

But it would be argued that all real life evidence should be put aside. And this is about fairness, safety and biology. And so we want to dig into those realities. How common is this issue out there?

Well, there's no specific data from the California CIF or our youth sports, but last year the NCAA testified to Congress that fewer in 10 out of 500,000 athletes were transgender. We know from general studies that about 1% of the population identifies as transgender.

And I'm going to guess in the climate that we're in and the barriers that they face, an even smaller portion of those are willing to stand up and take a try and play sports. On safety, as a case in point, one famous example is from a volleyball player at San Jose State University.

Those following this issue know this well. It's garnered a lot of attention that her spikes were so fast and powerful that it proved their point. But ESPN analyzed that player's stats and found that while impressive, it wasn't any harder or faster than well developed cisgender teammates. And she wasn't an outlier when it came to size.

She was only one inch taller than the average size in the league. That she wasn't a, quote, superhuman athlete crushing other people. And one of her teammates said, I get hit in the face in practice every single day. It's volleyball. This is normal. There's a lot more examples.

But look no further than co-ed sports when men and women do play together. On fairness, and this is where the conversation does get very subjective. Most experts agree that before the age of puberty, there is not a significant competitive advantage between the sexes. After puberty, yes.

But with those on gender affirming care, like hormone replacement therapy, studies from of all things military recruits show that performance falls in lines with women assigned female at birth. And this Bill makes no distinction here. It's just a blanket ban and it's harmful. As said before, there's unfairness throughout sports. The umpire made a wrong call.

The judge was more critical on one gymnast. Someone has tall parents and the other people have short parents. Someone had the good fortune of good nourishment and excellent coaching. Someone else did not. We carry very much for our kids to get the win.

And so when they do, and so some do, and then the defeat comes and we jump to reasons why something might have been unfair in that situation. Which brings me to transgender kids. Things in the world today that they are, are deeply unfair to them.

What to do with a transgender child who wants to play in sports, who with her parents support has a birth certificate that says female, who goes about her day expressing herself as female. But here you have to be a boy or go without.

And since the Legislature last heard this debate in 2013, it was only until just recently that has actually been articulated to be, quote, a problem. Where I land is that the rationale of the best of this Bill is at best debatable, but for me, pretty well unfounded and consequential, specifically for some who in the end will have none.

To the rare and the special kid out there who knows the harsh environment that they are up against in today's world, that they are brave enough to be true to themselves, that they are strong enough to try out for a sport and maybe even make the cut, that they look past the torment to better themselves, that they seek teamwork, confidence, accomplishment, memories, positive development and more, that they occasionally get the win.

Hats off to you. Most people wouldn't have made it that far through all of that, myself included. But we strive to make our state better for all people and this Bill does not do that. For these reasons and more, I cannot support the Bill and I'll ask my colleagues to join me in opposing.

Is there any further questions or comments? Mr. Vice Chair?

Clearly this is a very highly polarized issue and I hesitated to make any remarks because they would potentially be misunderstood. But I feel very compelled to at least explain my position and why I will be supporting this Bill. I believe that there has been an honorable pursuit to achieve what is seen as equity.

But unfortunately I believe that it appears to have blurred honest reality. And I think I can use one example to justify why I believe what I believe. We have a person that is a very high profile individual that was a very highly competitive person in our culture.

Caitlyn Jenner clearly takes the position that she was born with an advantage to compete athletically. I share that perspective and I will be supporting this Bill.

Any other questions or comments? Speaker Rivas?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate your comments, your leadership on this Committee, Mr. Vice Chair. You know, and we've heard from many people this morning on both sides of this and you know, including well intentioned parents and I share the comments made by the chair.

I myself am a parent as well, two young children. A nine year old daughter who is fiercely competitive, challenges me often to a race so she could say she beat her dad and she's going to beat me because I'm getting older and my body's breaking down.

So it's only a matter of time before, before she beats me and I'll have to eat my words because I told her I don't care how old I am, I'm very competitive and I'll go down fighting. But that day's coming.

You know, I, you know, I mention that because I want to thank everyone who made the time to be here, to engage, to share your thoughts, your opinions, robust public debate, done respectfully, that is what our democracy is all about. You know, I've been in the Assembly since 2018 when I was elected.

Not a single constituent has ever called to complain. Not a single constituent has ever stopped me at the grocery store, which happens often, to ask me about or to, you know, to mention to me about who's on their kid's soccer team. Not one. They do stop me.

They tell me about housing, they asked me about traffic, about crime, public services like health care, childcare. They always have something to say about the DMV because these are the things that they care about.

Now, contrary to what Assemblymember Sanchez claimed in her opening remarks, in all due respect, Assemblymember, there is no epidemic of transgender kids playing basketball and soccer, or any other sport for that matter. There are more kids right now with measles in Texas than there are transgender athletes playing in the NCAA.

Look, in December, this past December, NCAA President Charlie Baker, he testified at a congressional hearing that out of more than 500,000 total college student athletes, he believed that fewer than 10, fewer than 10 of those athletes were transgender. That's not an epidemic.

Again, when there are currently more kids with measles in Texas than there are transgender athletes in the NCAA, that's the epidemic we should all be worried about. Meanwhile, here in California, residents are facing cuts to Medicare, to schools, and to veterans services. Californians have lost their jobs because of DOGE.

But our Republican colleagues, they don't want to talk about that. Republicans keep emphasizing how this Bill protects women and girls. And women do face threats today, but not from the very small number of transgender kids playing sports. The real threat is the Trump Administration taking away abortion access and dismantling programs that help women.

And finally, I can't emphasize this point enough. I'm not going to support a Bill that takes rights away from a protected class of people. Gender identity is a protected class here in California, just like race, sex, and age. And it's been a protected class for more than a decade. I'm not going to turn my back on that.

I'm not going to sanction discrimination against LGBTQ Californians, not now and not ever. Again, I'm glad that we had this hearing, this debate, because Californians deserve to know what our priorities are. Mr. Chair, thank you.

Thank you, Speaker Rivas, Assembly Member Quirk-Silva?

Good morning. I have some remarks I'm going to be making, but I do want to acknowledge my colleague, as you stated, that this is polarizing. And if we were to take a poll today, as I mentioned, heard many people mention polls. There were many people here that support the Bill and many who oppose the Bill.

And we are in a crisis of California, of conflicting viewpoints. To the moms and the parents out there. I have four adult, I want to say kids, but they're not. They're 28 through 35 and now I'm a recent grandmother. Also classroom teacher for many, many years, almost 30 years in the elementary classroom.

And there are moments when legislation we discuss as much more than about policy. It's about who we are, and it's about what we stand for. And with those comments I just made, everybody who came to the mic, our presenter, our witnesses, stand firm in their belief. They stand firm in their either opposition or support.

And yet this is why we stand still today in America, because we have no middle ground anymore. We have no looking through a lens of compromise. We have no looking at, I'm afraid for my own daughter because she's five or ten and maybe an athlete, but what about the other person's daughter? We are not exchanging views.

Compromise has now become a bad word. It's either black or white. I'm for or I'm against. We have no data on this. We heard about the national data of transgender athletes playing in sports. But how many California transgender athletes are there? How many are taking a girl's spot?

When we have our youngsters, whether they're men or women, play sports, they sign up. Parents sign up as young as 3 or 2 or 3 or 4 to play T ball. And we talk about sports.

Of any of you who are avid sports fan, read John Wooden, the famous basketball player, who talked about skills, who talked about friendship, who talked about what it's like to be an athlete on and off the court, who instilled through his work the pyramid of success, which is about character, it's about friendliness.

It's all of those skills that our churches teach us and this was somebody who won championship after champion. For those of you who don't know him, he was a coach for the UCLA champion teams.

And when we put our kids in sports, more and more we have seen parents of five year olds screaming on the sidelines of basketball and soccer games, disrespecting the volunteer sports, volunteer coaches, which are sometimes the father who stood up or the mother. Because we want to win.

And when we want to win, there is no room for losing and there is no room to look at somebody else's point of view. We have lost our gracefulness and our kindness. And I know that half of you in this room don't agree with me and half of you might.

But what I care more about is where did we get to where we are talking about something that will ban. We have banned books, we are banning teachers, we are banning. Why have we become so afraid that we've taken the liberty? Libertarians it used to be about, let people live their lives. Stay out of my bedroom.

Stay out of my finances. And now we are encroaching. So when we are targeting transgender youth, younger people who are already facing higher rates of bullying, higher rates of depression, higher rates of suicide. Why? Why? This is wrong and this is cruel.

As I mentioned, we don't have the data. A study Bill on this or a hearing on this would be something I could support. How many athletes are there? What are the rates of injury? How many athletes are taking the top podium? These are questions we should and can research. But what makes this even more outrageous.

I'm sorry, you can get grouchy at me now, for those who don't agree with me, is the hypocrisy. We hear time and time again from those pushing these bans that the Federal Government should stay out of education. And they applaud the Trump Administration for saying that Washington should not dictate what happens in our school.

And, by the way, when we lose our federal protections, that means disabled students, special-ed students not getting the care that they deserve. When they call for dismantling the Department of Education, for turning every decision over to our state, that is our great State of California.

But, however, the moment the Federal Government hands a policy down from our President that they agree with, then all of a sudden we should fall in line. All of a sudden, we should match what the Federal Government says. And I say no.

The Federal Government is trying to look into our Social Security, they're trying to dismantle our Medicare, they're trying to take health care away. I say no. And it is. This isn't about local control. It's about following the Trump Administration. So with that, I say we should look into this. We should have an informational hearing.

We should get more data. And then, and then I would be happy to look at the policy, but to go to a ban immediately without data is not acceptable. But I ask for those of you who are in the audience, look to your left and look to your right.

Look to the people who are sitting next to you. You may or may not agree with them. You may be hostile against them, you may despise them for who they are. But in an earthquake or fire, who are you going to be running to?

W hen your kids are playing on the soccer field are you asking those parents, Are you a Democrat? Are you a Republican? What is your family's background? Let's be better. Let's do better. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Quirk-Silva. Assemblymember Gonzalez?

We had the opportunity to listen to many people here, and I'm thankful for that because that's what should be happening, right? We should be hearing multiple voices, multiple perspectives across the board. What we're charged to do is understand the totality of this so that we can make appropriate decisions moving forward.

I believe the wise thing to do is to ask some questions. So if you'll indulge me for a second, I think we had Aaron Friday, technical expert? There we go. I just have a couple questions. Thank you. If you could just state your name and what you do.

Sure. Erin Friday, licensed California attorney and President of Our Duty.

My question is, with respect to the CIF, is the, is the CIF required to comply with Title 9 in, in our codes, yes or no?

Yes.

Okay. And I understand that you are working with the U.S. Department of Education. Can you tell us if the Department of Education is exploring withholding funds, can you reveal what you know, if you're permitted to discuss that?

What I'm allowed to reveal currently is that the CIF is being investigated by the Department of Education. I have had meetings with the secretary for the Department of Education in D.C.

As a Democrat speaking with Republicans, and they are going to use every tool in their tool kit to ensure that there is safety, dignity and to girls in the State of California. And they will withhold funding. I can guarantee that.

And what's the current Status of Title 9?

The current status is that the last case was decided in January of 2025. It came out of the State of Kentucky, and it was a federal district court case that stated that Title 9 needs to go back to the 1972 Title IX or 2020 before gender identity was added by President Biden.

So that's where it stands in the law currently, is that Title 9 as it was written, is based on sex and it continues to be based on sex.

And with regards to funding, how much money does the Federal Government contribute to K through 12 and what is the amount that that's at risk that we're talking about here?

So the money that flows from the Federal Government to K through 12 schools is about $8 billion. And I want to warn this dais that California is receiving federal dollars basically with a contractual obligation, because that's what Title 9 is. It's really a funding Bill with a contractual obligation.

If you are accepting federal funds, you are required not to discriminate based on sex, not gender identity, but sex. And so California is at risk for false claims actions. And I suspect that the Federal Government again will use the judiciary to facilitate those types of cases.

So speaking about the judiciary, let's assume that that schools are knowingly violating Title 9. Since Title 9 is essentially a funding Bill, does the state or school risk the loss?

I'm sorry, Mr. Gonzalez. Mr. Zbur?

I just, you know, this was not, this person is not an expert that was identified by one of the sides on here. This is, in my view, out of our normal order. And I'm just wondering why, why we have questions that are not to the, are being directed to someone that was not an identified?

To the author, is this your technical witness?

She was one of my technical, technical witnesses along with the Doctor behind me. Yes.

Okay. I don't think that. Yeah. She had announced. If you, are you substituting her out for the Doctor?

At this point, sure, that's fine. We're already almost out there. Conversation.

And she is a lawyer. So I was just. I'm trying to understand the greater picture of all of these implications when it comes across the board. And I think it's important that all of us take a look at this from all sides. Right. It's important that we see what are the implications whenever we make decisions.

So this is me trying to understand and get a greater picture. I'm a new guy here, so I'm not as seasoned as some of the folks here. But I want to understand the totality so I can say that I've asked the right questions in order to give my, my, my vote.