Overview

• California’s attorney general filed a pre-enforcement lawsuit in Northern California challenging the Justice Department’s letter as unconstitutional.
• The DOJ Civil Rights Division, led by Harmeet Dhillon, had given districts until June 9 to certify in writing that they would ban transgender girls from competing in girls’ sports.
• California law requires schools to allow transgender students to compete on sports teams consistent with their gender identity.
• The state argues the federal demand violates the Equal Protection Clause and includes threats to cut federal funding for districts that refuse to comply.
• The dispute underscores a national debate over transgender rights in sports and the balance between federal directives and state laws.