Gov. Gavin Newsom, D, signed the “Youth Sports for All” Act into law last week, creating a commission to study inequalities in youth sports. The legislation is opposed by Republicans who say it’s a disguise to eventually allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports.
What will the new law create?
Assembly Bill 749 requires a panel of legislators and health experts to explore the creation of a new state office to regulate youth sports, including improving access for children regardless of their gender identity. It could lead to the creation of a California Department of Youth Sports.
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The bill’s author, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, D-Inglewood, called the current youth sports landscape “highly fragmented and unfair” and said a first step is needed to help youth become healthier and more resilient.
“Existing practices, pay-to-play models, a lack of facilities, the absence of statewide coaching and safety standards, hyper-competitive leagues and inaccessible community-based programs deny every child the opportunity to reap the lifelong benefits of youth sports participation, which include positive socio-emotional development, community cohesion, mental and physical health, academic success and overall healthier and stronger communities,” McKinnor said.
What is Newsom’s stance on the legislation?
During legislative committee hearings, McKinnor focused on the legislation’s potential racial impact. She pointed to the Play Equity Report released by the LA84 Foundation, which found 59% of white children participated in structured sports programs, compared with 47% of Black and 45% of Latino children.
Newsom approved the bill despite comments on his podcast in March, which angered some Democrats. In an exchange with assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Newsom said that biological males competing in women’s sports is unfair.
“Well, I think it’s an issue of fairness. I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness, it’s deeply unfair,” Newsom said. “I’m not wrestling with the fairness issue. I totally agree with you.”
What do Republicans say about the bill?
California Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, R, mentioned Newsom’s podcast comments in a Sept. 26 open letter to the governor’s office encouraging him to veto it. He also called the bill a disguise to allow biological males to compete against women and girls in youth sports.
“The author and supporters of AB 749 know if they were upfront and put forth a straightforward bill allowing biological males to compete against young women and girls, it would be easily defeated,” Jones said. “So, instead, they are trying to establish a stacked commission to indirectly rig the issue in their favor.”
The legislation has only one mention of gender identity in a phrase about conducting an “assessment of the need and potential for a centralized entity to improve access to and involvement in sports for all youth.”
The bill was supported by more than two dozen organizations, including the California State PTA, Disability Rights California, several Boys & Girls Clubs, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Rams.
The state public health officer will convene the commission, which will also study standards in coaching, health and safety and the pay-to-play models, which have been an ongoing issue across the country.
