On June 2, 2025, the United States Department of Justice issued a stark warning to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), declaring Bylaw 300.D a violation of the equal protection clause. This unconstitutional bylaw, which allows male athletes to compete in girls’ sports under the guise of “equity,” undermines the rights of biological girls across California. As a father to a young daughter and a Turlock School Board Trustee for Area 6, I cannot stand by while our female student athletes are subjected to this dangerous and unfair practice.
The DOJ’s notification is a wake-up call. CIF Bylaw 300.D jeopardizes the safety, fairness, and opportunities that female athletes deserve. Sports are meant to be a space where girls can compete against their peers on a level playing field. This isn’t about exclusion, it’s about ensuring that our daughters have the same opportunities to excel, achieve, and feel safe.
We must protect the rights of all female student athletes in our district by rejecting this flawed bylaw. I’ve requested a special Turlock Unified School District board meeting to hear directly from our community and to file a formal complaint with the CIF, demanding they abandon Bylaw 300.D.
Our daughters deserve better. They deserve a future where their hard work, talent, and dedication are met with fairness, not compromised by misguided policies. It’s time for California to listen to the DOJ, to parents, and to the girls who are fighting for their rightful place in sports. Let’s act now, before more opportunities are stolen from the next generation of female athletes.
The DOJ’s notification is a wake-up call. CIF Bylaw 300.D jeopardizes the safety, fairness, and opportunities that female athletes deserve. Sports are meant to be a space where girls can compete against their peers on a level playing field. This isn’t about exclusion, it’s about ensuring that our daughters have the same opportunities to excel, achieve, and feel safe.
We must protect the rights of all female student athletes in our district by rejecting this flawed bylaw. I’ve requested a special Turlock Unified School District board meeting to hear directly from our community and to file a formal complaint with the CIF, demanding they abandon Bylaw 300.D.
Our daughters deserve better. They deserve a future where their hard work, talent, and dedication are met with fairness, not compromised by misguided policies. It’s time for California to listen to the DOJ, to parents, and to the girls who are fighting for their rightful place in sports. Let’s act now, before more opportunities are stolen from the next generation of female athletes.
— Patrick Shields
