California Scholastic Federation and AG Give Pushback on Executive Orders
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) will follow state law concerning transgender athletes instead of the executive order which aims to keep men out of women’s sports.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) will provide “students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete in education-based experiences in compliance with California law.”
The CIF maintains that “California families seeking gender-affirming care, and the doctors and staff who provide it, are protected under state laws.”
Any federally funded U.S. district or school violating the Executive Order could lose its funding. The CIF did not mention what would be done if federal funding is lost for a district or individual school in violation of the order.
On February 5, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a defiant statement in response to President Trump’s executive order, “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation.”
Bonta said the executive order is both “cruel and irresponsible.” He believes gender-affirming care is “medically necessary.” If this care is denied to California’s youth, the Attorney General claimed, it can endanger them and put their “health and well-being at risk.”
Bonta also maintained that California law has not changed in result of the executive order. State law will serve as an obstacle to the order and President Trump:
“We will not let the President turn back the clock or deter us from upholding California values. I understand that the President’s executive order on gender affirming care has created some confusion. Let me be clear: California law has not changed, and hospitals and clinics have a legal obligation to provide equal access to healthcare services.”
