If I were California’s trans sports czar, here’s how I’d rewrite trans athlete policy

It’s August 2026. The press and television cameras are all trained on a office in Sacramento ahead of the next school year.

Amidst the backlash behind the California Interscholastic Federation “pilot program” awarding cisgender girls a spot on a podium next to any trans girl who wins, it was decided to bring in an “Inclusion Czar.”

It’s a nice long flight from New England to the Golden State, but I was up to the task of creating a policy for girls high school sports in California that works for all girls.

I stride up to the lectern with determined brown eyes looking out at a packed press room.

I take a breath and begin to lay out a better course for the years ahead.

Get off the sidelines and into the game

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Good morning! My name is Karleigh Webb. The CIF has tasked me with building a high school policy regarding the inclusion of trans athletes in girls sports, and by executive order of Governor Gavin Newsom, I’ve been given broad power to do it.

This is an extraordinary step to be sure, but I look forward to bringing new thinking to our nation’s most populous state and perhaps build a direction for high school athletes nationwide.

We know why we’re here. For the second straight year there was controversy because a girl with a lot of talent who happens to be trans made certain people jumpy.

In 2024, no one had a problem with this trans athlete from Jurupa Valley.

Last year that same kid won big. Some people got uncomfortable, this governing body made the wrong choice with it’s podium-sharing policy, and a student-athlete paid the price.

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I’m also aware of the national picture with ballot initiatives attacking student-athletes in other states and an upcoming ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court.

So why I am here? To get ahead of the politicians in Washington and here in Sacramento with one word: Enough.

Welcome to the Karleigh Webb Solution.

The role of medical transition for trans athletes

First, we go forward by going back. The NCAA policy before last year will be our template and will be our policy for the upcoming 2026-2027 academic year.

A transgender girl who has undergone at least one year of feminizing hormone replacement theory and can show at least quarterly documentation affirming the same will be considered for eligibility. If said student-athlete started such treatment at the time of this policy, the one-year clock starts the second we get the paperwork and, provided the student-athlete stays on said treatment, they will be considered for eligibility in the following school year.

If the student-athlete is ruled eligible by the CIF, then that competitor will be treated like any other eligible athlete. Such is in line with inclusive policy the CIF has always maintained and in concordance with the laws of the State of California.

That’s means no more “shared podiums.” No more second-class citizenship nonsense. No more, “Yes you won, but somebody’s uncomfortable because you’re trans so we have to give the cis girl a medal, too”.

The “pilot program” is grounded permanently. Eligibility will be decided by policy, not political discomfort.

Starting today, we also build the second plank of this plan. We will create a permanent standing committee of review. This committee will be made up of coaches, administrators, student-athletes and experts in regards to the medical and competition sides of this issues.

Some of the best expertise in the world in regards to gender affirming healthcare are in this state, so we’re going to tap into their knowledge.

I’m also reaching out to key researchers who have crunched the data and consult with them on how we move forward. People like Dr. Johanna Harper, Dr. Ada Cheng, Dr. Blair Hamilton and as many minds as we can get who have actually studied trans people in sport and read the competition results along with the lab work.

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We will be calling active and past trans athletes who have been discussing this issue and getting their views. I’m sure a Cal Calamia, or past CIF high school champion Nikki Hiltz will have insights that can inform us as we move forward in enhancing policy in the years ahead.

In every sport, after every season, and the end of every school year this committee will study, discuss and look at all the variables in competition and participation. If they find something that needs to be enhanced, modified or changed, we do it.

Standing behind policy for trans athletes

I also pledge to you and to every student-athlete from Crescent City to Calexico: We will stand up for our policy and we will not leave you to twisting in the wind about your eligibility.

That also means that the next AB Hernandez will not be a piñata for anti-trans media makers, activists and politicians to take a swing at.

Standing up for inclusion shouldn’t be left to a high school kid. That’s my job. That’s our job.

Those who have issue with the regulations can go through our process to address their concerns, but know that there is a court of facts. We will listen to the evidence, studies, testimonies and whatever you bring to the table.

But grievance is not governance. We will not make changes because of pressure from those who are uncomfortable with transgender student-athletes on the field with their cisgender counterparts.

You have a problem with California law regarding trans rights? You have every right to lobby legislators for change. But understand that by California law, trans boys are boys, trans girls and girls and none of them can be denied equal access to educational opportunity.

Our regulations fall in line with those laws.

This body failed a student-athlete by choosing fear over governance in the past. We go into the future with a commitment to do better because we know better.

I will be open to question today, tomorrow and every day forward as we engage in this process. A process we hope shows once again that California leads the nation.

Thank you for your time this morning. Now, it’s nice day, I rented a convertible and the PCH is calling me.

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