Newsom backs rule change after Trump threatens to pull funding over transgender athlete

[SouthBayDem]

Source: Politico

SACRAMENTO, California — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday welcomed the decision by a school athletics group to expand the number of high school athletes eligible to compete in a track and field meet, which came after a strong showing by a transgender student drew anger and a threat of funding cuts from President Donald Trump.

Under the new rules set out abruptly by the California Interscholastic Federation, which governs high school sports, athletes who were identified at birth as female and fell one spot short of making the cut for the upcoming statewide championship at qualifying meets around the state will now be allowed to compete.

The move came after Trump posted a social media screed that appeared to target a transgender high school athlete from Riverside County who won regional competitions in long jump and triple jump earlier this month and is set to compete in the state championships.

“CIF’s proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness,” Izzy Gardon, a spokesperson for Newsom, said in a statement. “The Governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach.”

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/27/newsom-transgender-athlete-00371572

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The CIF statement, specifically the part about the new compromise rule:

Under this pilot entry process, any biological female student-athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark for one of their Section's automatic qualifying entries in the CIF State meet, and did not achieve the CIF State at-large mark in the finals at their Section meet, was extended an opportunity to participate in the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships. The CIF believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes.

Yet so far, public opinion is pretty sour on this, indicating that attempting to compromise with the anti-trans side was always a fool's errand.

[Initech]

1. This whole trans athlete thing is 100% grade A bullshit. MAGA doesn't care about women in sports, period.

I'm surprised Newsom isn't calling their bluff on this. This is just a way to legislate their hatred which stemmed from the likes of Alex Jones, Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson. Fuck them all.

[SouthBayDem]

2. Exactly. I'm sure most of these "keep trans women out" grifters

won't be coming around when girls' teams need real help such as better equipment or nutrition. Because that kind of help doesn't get instant likes on social media.

[C Moon]

4. Newsom has always been doing what he can to fight that racist felon trump and right wing nazis now running our country.

Don't get sucked up into the right wing garbage the media is feeding everyone to make our Democratic leaders look bad.
Newsom is a hero fighting for our country while we are facing an extreme right wing takeover.
Keep your head on straight.

[Initech]

7. Yeah I definitely figured this article was bullshit just rom the title!

[AZJonnie]

3. Public opinion is sour in what sort of way?

I could see this going one a number of ways when it comes to 'public opinion', and I'd be quite surprised if there was any real consensus about it.

[SouthBayDem]

6. The CIF announcement attracted many hostile replies

on Elon’s side hustle. The transphobes won’t accept this compromise. Neither are pro trans places like on Reddit.

[Pachamama]

5. I think this was a brilliant response

It defuses the argument that the anti trans stance takes that claim it’s unfair to female born athletes.

It’s also setting up things for a court case defense related to Title IX