California candidate ejected after addressing transgender athletes at council meeting

California state superintendent candidate Sonja Shaw walked out of a Southern Section Council meeting Thursday after delivering an unscheduled speech about transgender athletes in girls' sports. She was kicked out because officials claimed she was trespassing. Police were called, though Shaw noted the officers were very nice and did not have to step in. Video footage sent to OutKick captured her standing before the council and challenging its members on the issue.

Shaw told OutKick she arrived at 9:07 a.m. She asked CIF officials repeatedly to put the transgender athlete participation topic on the agenda, but they refused. The published meeting agenda listed a public hearing where speakers got three minutes each, yet Shaw said she never received that chance. "If you think it's okay for a boy to play against our girls in sports, which is happening, you're Southern Section," she stated while interrupting the session. "You are the representatives to stand up and do something."

She argued that federal law supersedes state law regarding this matter. Officials called for a brief recess, but Shaw kept talking. She asked anyone willing to fight for girls' sports to stand up. When officials approached her to leave, she told them to call the cops so they could escort her out. "No, you know it's not right to let me get three minutes," she said during the confrontation.

As she was ushered toward the exit, Shaw asked attendees who supported her position to rise. One person apparently stood up, and she remarked that there was only one guy in the room willing to fight for their girls. She accused the organization of ignoring pleas from female athletes contacting her for help. "We have girls right now reaching out to me asking for help," she said before leaving. "I'm recording because I want people to see that you're the representatives doing nothing."

"I don't care about losing votes," Shaw added, dismissing any concern over a seat on the council. "The point is, none of you are willing to do anything."

This incident happens amid an ongoing clash between California and the federal government over transgender athlete policies. State law requires students to participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams, consistent with their gender identity. The CIF's policy follows that requirement. However, the Trump administration argues the rule violates Title IX protections against sex discrimination.

The Justice Department sued the California Department of Education and CIF in July 2025, claiming their rules deny female athletes equal opportunities by allowing biological males to compete in girls' sports. California officials defended their policies as consistent with state law. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit on Aug. 31 against both the department and the CIF.

A federal court ruled that California did not receive clear notice that excluding transgender athletes was required to keep federal education funding, rather than deciding if allowing transgender girls in girls' sports breaks Title IX. The Justice Department stated it is now looking into whether to appeal the verdict.

National attention surged when transgender athlete AB Hernandez ran in the girls' division at the CIF state track and field championships. CIF tried a pilot program that let an extra biological female athlete move forward and win a medal if a transgender competitor was involved. Critics, including Shaw, said this fix did not solve the core fairness problem.

Shaw has built her political platform around parental rights and protecting female athletes. She won California's June primary and now faces San Diego Unified School District board member Richard Barrera in the November election for state superintendent of public instruction. The CIF has not answered requests for comment.