Marin Voice: California should be a leader in protecting trans youth 

California has long been a beacon of progress on LGBTQ+ rights. Now, we need our state leaders and communities to protect transgender youth who are under severe attack from the White House and, recently, Gov. Gavin Newsom.

President Donald Trump has issued executive orders to prohibit transgender girls and women from playing sports and using locker rooms in schools; directed health agencies to end gender-affirming medical care for youth under 19; and removed school-based protections from discrimination for trans and nonbinary youth, tying federal funds to compliance.

Newsom compounded the strain on transgender youth when he raised concerns about the state’s commitment to protecting them. During his March 6 podcast, he said he “completely aligned” with guest Charlie Kirk, a well-known figure who has consistently pushed anti-trans rhetoric, that it’s “deeply unfair” to have transgender females in sports, and that gender-affirming medical treatments should be off-limits to youth. His misguided statements not only undermines scientific evidence but also jeopardizes trans and nonbinary youth when they are already being targeted.

The claim that transgender girls threaten fairness in sports is a baseless invention. Transgender girls have been playing sports for decades. Scientists emphasize there are no measurable athletic differences between boys and girls before puberty. Biological sex is not binary, but bimodal — like two mountain peaks connected by hills. Intersex people have mixed anatomical traits, and transgender women’s brains are more similar to those of their identified gender.

There is no conclusive evidence that transgender athletes have performance advantages, and testosterone levels are already monitored for elite athletes of all genders. A trans ban falsely assumes that characteristics like height, build and strength are equal among cisgender athletes.

Banning trans girls and women from sports harms all females. Athletes perceived as not looking “feminine enough” could be subject to intrusive scrutiny. For example, Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif was falsely accused of being transgender during the Paris Games and required security from attacks. Enforcing a ban would likely require invasive bodily inspections, increasing potential for abuse.

In states with trans sports bans, participation among cisgender girls has decreased. The benefits of sports — like leadership and community — should extend to all students. There is no fairness issue when transgender girls compete alongside their peers.

Concerns about trans-affirming care are similarly exaggerated and critically problematic. Major medical organizations like the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics endorse gender-affirming care, recognizing its lifesaving benefits. Harvard researchers found that less than 0.1% of minors with private insurance are transgender and receive puberty blockers or hormone treatments. As with any medical treatment, hormone therapies carry some risks, such as with bone growth or fertility, but preventive measures exist.

Surgeries for transgender minors are rare and are primarily chest reductions for transgender boys who were not able to access puberty blockers to avoid developing breasts. Notably, their rates of chest reductions are lower than those for cisgender male teens. These interventions significantly reduce depression and suicide risks, and any politician who disregards the validity of gender-affirming care undermines professional consensus and sends harmful messages to healthcare providers and the public.

School exclusionary policies harm youth, without question. When youth face discrimination, they disconnect from school. While school connectedness is a strong predictor of attendance, achievement and graduation, it requires safety.

Transgender youth represent only 3.3% of high school students and nonbinary or questioning youth represent 2.2%. However, these students face the highest rates of bullying, violence and isolation, as well as the highest rates of anxiety, depression and suicidality — not because of who they are, but because of the hostility they endure. Even a single anti-LGBTQ school policy increases suicidality rates in gender-diverse youth while their mental well-being improves at affirming schools.

As a licensed marriage and family therapist, a grandparent of transgender children and a lifelong Californian, I urge  Newsom and all Californians to protect transgender and gender-expansive youth. We need leadership that embraces evidence, shows compassion and ensures that all youth, regardless of gender identity, can thrive — in sports, health care, school and life.

Marin resident Beth Hossfeld is a licensed marriage and family therapist and co-founder of One Circle Foundation. The views expressed here are her own and do not necessarily reflect those of One Circle Foundation.