The US Justice Department is threatening California with fines and legal action over its policy allowing a transgender athlete to compete in high school track-and-field events. The move comes days after the athlete, AB Hernandez, won two statewide competitions.
Under new rules, Hernandez was able to participate in events where female students are typically allowed to compete. She shared the gold medal podium with other students in one event and won both the high jump and triple jump at a state track meet.
The Justice Department’s head of the Civil Rights Division, Harmeet Dhillon, has accused California’s policy as “unconstitutional” and ordered the state to inform her office by June 9 that it will no longer implement rules allowing transgender athletes to compete.
President Trump has also singled out Hernandez in a post on his social media site, threatening “large scale fines” for the state. An investigation into California high school sports was launched last week after the Justice Department received complaints about the policy.
Hernandez and her supporters are unfazed by the criticism, with one saying they would rather be treated like adults than children. The California Attorney General’s office has stated that it will “defend and uphold” state laws protecting LGBTQ+ students from discrimination.
This is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to challenge policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-administration-threatens-california-with-legal-action-over-transgender-athletes