Supreme Court decision limits California transgender sports participation

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the term “sex” in Title IX refers only to biological sex, upholding bans on biological males competing in women’s sports in 27 states. While the decision does not create a nationwide ban, it prevents California from maintaining its current transgender‑sports policies. The ruling enables the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights and the Department of Justice to threaten federal funding for any college, university or community‑college athletic program that allows a biological male to play on a women’s team. Investigations have already begun at San Jose State University, Santa Rosa Junior College, the California Community College Athletic Association and Jurupa Valley Unified School District. The Court’s majority opinion suggested schools could form co‑ed teams as a possible compromise, though this raises budgetary concerns. The decision marks a significant shift in how Title IX will be enforced across California’s public‑education system.