Redlands Unified board urges ban on transgender athletes in girls’ sports

REDLANDS, Calif. — A divided Redlands Unified School District Board of Education voted Tuesday to approve a resolution affirming Title IX protections for female athletes and urging state athletic governing bodies to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls' sports.

The resolution passed 3-2, with Board President Michele Rendler and board members Candy Olson and Jeanette Wilson voting in favor. Board members Melissa Ayala-Quintero and Patty Holohan opposed.

Tuesday’s meeting, much like the last, was consumed by public outrage, political stalemate and escalating personal disputes.

The five-and-a-half-hour session included nearly four hours of public comment from approximately 100 speakers, illustrating the ongoing polarization over LGBTQ+ rights, student inclusion, and the role of flags and classroom expression in schools.

The board also scheduled discussion of revised policies on flag displays and instructional materials but did not take action on either item, citing time constraints.

Board passes symbolic Title IX resolution

The resolution titled Supporting Title IX and Fairness in Girls Interscholastic Sports was introduced by board member Olson. The resolution states that “biological differences between male and female athletes can create inherent advantages in competitive sports, particularly in categories designated specifically for girls” and urges athletic organizations to uphold Title IX by "ensuring fairness and equal opportunity in girls sports."

Olson, who described her own athletic achievements as a student, said the resolution is about “safety" and "fairness."

No other board members made comments about the resolution.

Ayala-Quintero and Holohan voted against the measure.

What does the resolution mean?: Resolution 43 does not change existing California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) rules, which currently allow transgender student-athletes to compete based on their gender identity. Nor does it carry the force of law.

“A board policy sets enforceable rules that govern how the district operates,” said district spokesperson Christine Stephens in a statement. “A board resolution expresses a viewpoint or intent through a formal statement. They do not change how the district operates or impose enforceable rules.”

“In addition to the board resolution that was passed,” Stephens added, “the district’s legal responsibility to follow all applicable state and federal laws remains unchanged. The district remains committed to following both federal Title IX regulations and California state laws. Any future actions resulting from this resolution will be carefully evaluated to ensure they comply with legal standards and respect the rights of all students.”

California law has supported transgender student inclusion in athletics for over a decade. Since 2013, the state’s School Success and Opportunity Act has allowed students to participate in sports and activities based on their gender identity.

The policy sets California apart from much of the nation—where, according to a Pew Research Center survey released last month, two-thirds of Americans favor requiring athletes to compete on teams that match the sex assigned at birth.

Democratic lawmakers in Sacramento recently rejected bills that would have banned transgender girls from participating in school sports, citing conflicts with state law and federal Title IX protections. Meanwhile, California remains in the federal spotlight, as the Department of Education investigates CIF for allegedly violating federal nondiscrimination laws by allowing transgender athletes to participate in women’s and girls’ sports.

Last month, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon sent a letter to Governor Newsom threatening to withhold federal funding if the state continues to let transgender athletes participate in girls' and women's sports.

Three hours of testimony deepen the rift

The public comment featured students, parents, teachers and residents from both within and outside Redlands. Supporters of the Title IX resolution said it was necessary to ensure fairness and safety for girls’ athletics, citing physiological differences between male and female athletes. Opponents, including multiple RUSD students and educators, argued the resolution was discriminatory, potentially illegal under California law and harmful to transgender youth.

“Are you going to forbid the kindergartner that is a tomboy from playing kickball because you think that she might be transgender?” said Germaine Miles, a parent from Trustee Area 2. “Again, all of this is wasting precious time and money that should be focused elsewhere. You heard the list from the Teachers Association. Our students and our schools deserve that money.”

"This is a continued waste of our district's resources and time. There is already standing law and protection for all girls in sports in the state of California," said Trisha Keeling, executive director of Together for Redlands. "And the fact that there aren't any trans athletes participating in Redland sports currently, as far as I know, demonstrates yet again board members Candy Olson and Jeanette Wilson are focused on creating problems which don't exist, and they cannot get any actual governance done."

A high school student, Corinne, urged the board to consider addressing athletic funding cuts instead. "The most significant issue that actually threatens girls' sports in our district is a lack of funding," said Corinne. "Every single year, school athletics rely mostly on parent fundraising because their budgets have been significantly cut."

Supporters of the policy—including local pastors, parents, and Chino Valley Unified school board president Sonia Shaw—called it a matter of “common sense” and praised the board’s conservative members for “standing strong.”

“Stop pushing your own insecurities and mental health issues onto children,” said Shaw, who was met with rebuke from the crowd. “This resolution to protect girls in sports is not controversial. It's common sense. We're here to make common sense common again. It's fair. It's about ensuring that our daughters who train, sacrifice, and give everything to their sport are not robbed of the opportunities.”

Others, like Kevin O'Connor, pastor of the Ark Church in Redlands and supporter of the resolution, pointed to the need to "protect" women and girls.

"The historical aspect of, in all sports, if men would juice themselves, if they're taking something to enhance who they are as a man, they would be banned, they were fined, but yet we want to put someone that already has the testosterone in their system playing in girls' sports," O'Connor said. "And so it seems like historically we should do something along that line that shows common sense in that realm."

What’s Next

Also during the meeting, the board voted 3-2 to move forward with a formal censure of Ayala-Quintero in the form of a resolution at the May 13 meeting.

Olson accused Ayala-Quintero of making a threatening gesture during the April 8 meeting. Ayala-Quintero denied the claim, calling it defamatory and “a misuse of the board’s time.”

Revised draft policies on flag displays and book challenges—both of which drew intense public testimony—will also return May 13. Both proposals have been criticized by opponents as discriminatory and legally risky, and praised by supporters as restoring neutrality and parental oversight in classrooms.