Newsom faces criticism for state's stance on trans athletes in girls' sports after SCOTUS ruling

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is once again facing immense criticism as his state continues to let trans athletes compete in girls sports after the Supreme Court's historic ruling on the issue this week.

After the court ruled 6-3 to uphold state laws that ban males from women's sports, Newsom's office said the state will continue to allow trans athletes to face girls.

"The Supreme Court’s decision does not affect California’s laws. The state remains committed to ensuring every Californian, including the LGBTQ community, is met with dignity and respect," a spokesperson from his office told Fox News Digital.A source within Newsom's office provided Fox News Digital a bulleted list titled "As a Governor, Governor Newsom has the strongest record in the country on protecting and expanding transgender rights."

NEWSOM'S OFFICE RESPONDS TO SCOTUS RULING ON WOMEN'S SPORTS AS CALIFORNIA FACES ONGOING TRANS ATHLETE WAVE

The list included several bragging points, including "making it easier to update gender markers on official documents," and "appointed multiple trans judges."

The statement prompted strong reactions on social media, as prominent women's sports activists like Riley Gaines and Jennifer Sey were quick to condemn Newsom for the stance.

Newsom's state was ravaged by a trans athlete national media crisis in May, for the second year in a row and third time in total in one year, as prominent trans athlete AB Hernandez competed in girls' sports.

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Hernandez won two track and field state titles for the second straight year. Ahead of the first round of the state tournament in early May, "Save Girls Sports" protesters led by former NCAA women's soccer player Sophia Lorey scheduled a news conference near the competition grounds.

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A source within Newsom's office previously addressed the news conference in the days leading up to the event in a statement provided to Fox News Digital, prompting controversy and criticism from locals."

The Governor has said discussions on this issue should be guided by fairness, dignity, and respect. He rejects the right wing’s cynical attempt to weaponize this debate as an excuse to vilify individual kids. The Governor’s position is simple: stand with all kids and stand up to bullies," the statement read.

Newsom previously declared that he believed males competing in girls' sports is "deeply unfair" during an episode of his podcast with the late Charlie Kirk in March 2025. President Donald Trump's Department of Justice is engaged in Title IX lawsuits against education agencies in California for its policies that allow trans athletes in girls' high school sports. The lawsuit was officially launched in July after Hernandez won two state finals in triple jump and high jump, and won second place in long jump, at last year's championships.