CA lawmaker calls trans athlete wave ‘religious civil rights issue,’ accuses Dems of manipulating youth

Bill Essayli’s Fight Against Trans Athletes in Women’s Sports

California Assembly member Bill Essayli has emerged as a key figure in the debate over transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports. His proposal to ban trans athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports has sparked significant controversy and discussion across the state. Essayli, a prominent Republican in Sacramento, introduced the bill on February 14, citing a surge in contentious incidents involving transgender athletes in girls’ sports teams. These incidents have pushed the issue into the spotlight, framed by Essayli as a matter of civil rights, particularly for people of faith. He argues that individuals from various religious backgrounds, including Christians, Muslims, and Jewish Americans, hold strong beliefs about gender and creation, which they feel are being challenged by the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports. "It is partially a religious civil rights issue," Essayli emphasized in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital. His efforts have positioned the issue as a cultural and political fault line in California, a state historically at the forefront of progressive policies.

The Controversy in California: Incidents and Backlash

The debate over transgender athletes in California has been fueled by high-profile incidents, particularly in Essayli’s district of Riverside. One such incident involved a transgender cross-country runner at Martin Luther King High School who took a varsity spot from a female athlete, sparking outcry from some in the community. The situation escalated further when school administrators likened "Save Girls Sports" T-shirts to swastikas, leading to a lawsuit. These events have brought national attention to Riverside, highlighting the tensions surrounding the issue. Similar controversies have emerged in other parts of California, including San Diego and the Bay Area, as well as in Democrat-run states across the U.S. Over the past year, these incidents have galvanized opposition to transgender inclusion in girls’ and women’s sports, with many arguing that biological males competing in female categories creates an unfair playing field. Essayli has seized on these concerns, framing his bill as a necessary step to protect the rights and opportunities of female athletes.

A Civil Rights Issue for People of Faith

For Essayli, the debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports is deeply intertwined with religious values and civil rights. He contends that people of faith, across various religions, hold a shared belief in the concept of two genders and the idea that individuals are created by God in their "perfect body." Essayli believes that allowing transgender athletes to participate in women’s sports undermines these religiously grounded values, creating a conflict of conscience for many Californians. He has positioned himself as a defender of these values, arguing that his bill is not just about sports but about preserving cultural and moral principles. "People of faith have obviously strong values and morals and beliefs about there being two genders," he explained. By framing the issue in these terms, Essayli has sought to broaden the appeal of his bill beyond sports to encompass a larger cultural and religious narrative.

The Broader Agenda: Essayli’s Take on Democrat Policies

Essayli has also sought to link the issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports to what he views as a broader Democratic agenda aiming to reshape American society. He has dismissed the policies supporting transgender inclusion as part of a "Marxist agenda" designed to break down family structures and drive a wedge between parents and children. In his view, Democrats are using the issue to exert greater control over the next generation, instilling progressive values in young people and undermining parental authority. "I think that’s the long game here, they’re making a play for the next generation of voters," Essayli said. He believes this approach is alienating voters and creating opportunities for Republicans to capitalize on public discontent. Essayli’s rhetoric reflects a broader strategy by conservatives to frame Democratic policies as radical and out of touch with mainstream values, positioning themselves as defenders of traditional norms.

Public Opinion and the Political Landscape

Despite the concerted efforts of Democrats to promote transgender inclusion in sports, public opinion appears to be siding with Essayli and other critics. Surveys conducted by reputable organizations such as the New York Times/Ipsos, Gallup, and NORC at the University of Chicago have consistently shown that a majority of Americans, including many Democrats, oppose allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports. For example, a New York Times/Ipsos survey found that 67% of Democrats believe biological males should not be allowed to participate in women’s sports, while a Gallup poll showed that nearly 70% of Americans share this view. These findings suggest that the issue has the potential to be a major vulnerability for Democrats in upcoming elections. The issue even played a role in November’s election, with exit polls indicating that 70% of moderate voters considered it important. Essayli believes these numbers signal a growing backlash against Democratic policies and predict that the issue will further erode Democratic support in California and beyond.

The Future of Trans Athletes in Women’s Sports: What’s Next?

As the debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports continues to unfold, the stakes are growing higher for both sides. In California, Essayli’s bill has reignited the broader national conversation about gender, identity, and fairness in sports. While Democrats have largely avoided public debate on the issue, they remain committed to preserving the current system, even as President Donald Trump threatens to cut federal funding to states that allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports. Essayli, on the other hand, remains steadfast in his opposition, arguing that the current system is not only unfair to female athletes but also harmful to transgender students themselves, who he claims are being misled by policies that encourage them to participate in sports and use facilities that do not align with their biological sex. As the political landscape continues to shift, one thing is clear: the issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports will remain a contentious and deeply divisive question in American culture and politics.