Washington, D.C. – Concerned Women for America (CWA), the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization, strongly supports the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) investigation into potential violations of Title IX by California’s AB 1266, a state law permitting males to participate on female sports teams. The DOJ’s letters of legal notice, announced today, mark a critical step toward ensuring fairness and safety for female athletes in California.

As the California Interscholastic Federation prepares for this week’s state track and field  championship, the DOJ’s investigation is both timely and urgent. CWA of California has been at the forefront of opposing AB 1266, which allows biological males to compete in girls’ sports, undermining the integrity of women’s athletics and creating unfair and unsafe environments for female athletes. The DOJ’s action aligns with CWA’s mission to protect the rights of women and girls to compete on a level playing field.

“CWA applauds the DOJ for standing up for female athletes and enforcing Title IX to ensure equal opportunities in education and sports,” said Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America. “California’s political class has robbed countless girls of their rightful achievements and created intimidating environments in spaces meant for their safety. We are grateful for the DOJ’s commitment to defending women’s civil rights and restoring fairness in girls’ sports.”

The DOJ’s investigation follows a lawsuit, Save Girls’ Sports, et al. v. Thurmond, et al., which alleges that AB 1266 violates Title IX by permitting males to compete on female sports teams and use female facilities, resulting in discrimination against female students. The lawsuit highlights the experiences of T.S., an 11th-grade female cross-country athlete, and K.S., a ninth-grade female cross-country athlete, who faced unfair treatment and were silenced when they protested through expressive clothing. CWA of California’s tireless advocacy against AB 1266 has been instrumental in bringing these issues to light, amplifying the voices of female athletes sidelined by this discriminatory law.