Education Dept Opens 19 Title IX Probes Including California Community College Athletic Association Over Transgender Sports Policy
After the Supreme Court heard arguments in cases on protecting women’s sports, the Department of Education opened 18 Title IX investigations, including one into the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A), which the Education Department and the Justice Department’s Title IX Special Investigations Team are probing over a policy that allows a transgender female or non‑binary student‑athlete who has completed at least one calendar year of testosterone suppression treatment to compete on women’s teams. A formal complaint alleges that the policy discriminated against at least three female athletes by allowing a male athlete to play on a women’s volleyball team and access women’s locker facilities during the 2024 and 2025 seasons and that their complaints were ignored; Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey called the policy an erasure of women’s rights and vowed the Special Investigations Team will pursue the case.
📌 Key Facts
- The Department of Education and the DOJ’s Title IX Special Investigations Team have opened an investigation into the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) over its transgender participation policy.
- The CCCAA policy permits a transgender female or non‑binary student‑athlete who has completed at least one calendar year of testosterone suppression treatment to compete on a women’s team.
- A formal complaint alleges the policy discriminated against at least three female athletes by allowing a male athlete to play on a women’s volleyball team.
- The complaint alleges the male athlete accessed women’s locker facilities during the 2024 and 2025 seasons and that the female athletes’ complaints were ignored.
- Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said the policy “erases women’s rights” and vowed that the Title IX Special Investigations Team will pursue the case.
📊 Relevant Data
Among U.S. youth aged 13-17, transgender identification rates vary by race/ethnicity: 3.6% for White, 2.2% for Black, 3.4% for AAPI, 4.2% for AIAN, 2.9% for Latinx, and 4.3% for Biracial/multiracial or another race/ethnicity, with AIAN and Biracial/multiracial youth showing higher rates compared to the overall youth population.
How Many Adults and Youth Identify as Transgender in the United States? — Williams Institute
Transgender identification among U.S. young adults aged 18-24 increased from 0.6% in 2014 to 2.8% in 2022, but has since declined, with rates for 18-25 year olds dropping from 7.8% in 2020 to 3.7% in 2024.
Stability and Change in Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Among Youth — PMC (National Library of Medicine)
Among adults aged 18 and older, transgender identification rates vary by race/ethnicity: 0.8% for White, 0.6% for Black, 0.8% for AAPI, 0.9% for AIAN, 1.0% for Latinx, and 1.3% for Biracial/multiracial, with Latinx, AIAN, and Biracial/multiracial adults showing higher rates relative to the general adult population.
How Many Adults and Youth Identify as Transgender in the United States? — Williams Institute
States that allow transgender participation in sports have higher overall girls' sports participation rates than states with bans on transgender inclusion.
94% of transgender women athletes changed their competition category, and 41% improved their level of competition upon transitioning to women's categories.
Transgender athletes and the sex category: change in competition level and category after gender transition — Taylor & Francis Online
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms that the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) is under investigation by the Department of Education and DOJ’s Title IX Special Investigations Team over its transgender participation policy.
- Details the specific 3C2A policy language: a transgender female or non‑binary student‑athlete who has completed at least one calendar year of testosterone suppression treatment may compete on a women’s team.
- Reveals a formal complaint alleging that the policy discriminated against at least three female athletes by allowing a male athlete to play on a women’s volleyball team and access women’s locker facilities during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, and that female complaints were allegedly ignored.
- Provides new, strongly worded quotes from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey framing the policy as erasing women’s rights and vowing that the Title IX Special Investigations Team will pursue the case.