State by State · Title IX complaint · lawsuits
In California, ICONS has backed junior college volleyball players’ federal Title IX complaint, the lawsuit over a male player on San José State’s women’s volleyball team, and a free-speech lawsuit after a library shut down an event on fairness in women’s sports.
The law in California
State policy allows males on girls' teams
California has no law protecting girls' sports; state law and the state high school federation let males who identify as girls play on girls' teams. A federal lawsuit challenging this was dismissed in August 2026, and lawmakers killed bills to change it in 2025.
Past attempts
AB 89 (Sanchez; would have required CIF to bar males from girls’ teams) and AB 844 (Essayli; facilities) failed in the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism Committee on April 1, 2025 (EdSource; ABC30).
The law in detail, with sources
The law
No law protecting the female category. Education Code 221.5(f) (added by AB 1266, 2013) lets students take part in sex-separated school programs, including athletics, and use facilities consistent with gender identity “regardless of the gender listed in their student records” (LCW summary; CBS on AB 1266 Title IX probe). CIF Bylaw 300.D says students “should be able to participate in CIF activities consistent with their gender identity” (LCW).
Who it covers
Public K-12 schools and CIF high school sports.
Notes
In June 2025 the U.S. Justice Department demanded schools certify they would not follow Bylaw 300.D; the state refused and AG Bonta sued pre-emptively (CA AG release; CDE letter). The U.S. Department of Education found California in violation of Title IX (Fox News). DOJ sued the California Department of Education and CIF in July 2025 (NBC); on Aug. 31, 2026 the federal court in Los Angeles dismissed that suit with prejudice, holding California lacked clear notice that Title IX funding required excluding males from girls’ teams; the policy remains in effect and DOJ may appeal (LCW; AALRR; EdWeek). The Supreme Court’s June 2026 ruling permits but does not require states to protect the female category, leaving California’s policy intact (CalMatters).
What ICONS has done in California
- March 4, 2026 · A federal judge let the players’ Title IX claims against San José State proceed
- May 30, 2025 · ICONS and Women Are Real flew a “No Boys in Girls’ Sports” banner over the CIF State Track and Field Championships in Clovis
- November 13, 2024 · ICONS backed the volleyball players’ lawsuit against the Mountain West and San José State
- February 7, 2024 · ICONS wrote to the CIF, California’s high school sports federation, demanding it repeal its gender identity policy and keep girls’ teams and locker rooms single-sex
In the courts and statehouses
September 3, 2025 · U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
Under federal investigation
Title IX complaint by Santa Rosa Junior College volleyball players
Three Santa Rosa Junior College volleyball players filed a federal Title IX complaint over the state junior college association's policy letting males who identify as women play on women's teams, citing safety, fairness and retaliation concerns. Santa Rosa Junior College was on the list of 18 Title IX investigations the Office for Civil Rights announced in January 2026.
“they allow men to steal women’s educational opportunities and fail to safeguard women’s rights and opportunities.” From the complaint, p. 20
Outcome: Santa Rosa Junior College says it is cooperating with an Office for Civil Rights Title IX investigation, one of 18 OCR announced on Jan. 14, 2026. No finding has been announced. Source
November 13, 2024 · U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
Conference dismissed; claims continue
Volleyball players and a coach sue the Mountain West Conference and San José State
A San José State associate head coach and players from several Mountain West schools sued over policies that let a male athlete play women’s volleyball. On March 3, 2026, the court dismissed the conference and the claims against San José State officials personally. The players’ Title IX damages claims against the California State University Board continue; the judge deferred ruling on them until after the Supreme Court’s B.P.J. decision.
“the NCAA, MWC, SJSU and other public colleges and universities have engaged in a purposeful and illegal assault on the rights of women athletes.” From the complaint, p. 3
Outcome: On March 3, 2026, the court dismissed the Mountain West and granted the CSU defendants' motion in part; the CSU Board's motion on the remaining Title IX claims was re-briefed in August 2026 and is still pending. Source
December 4, 2023 · U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
Settled; policy changed
Free-speech lawsuit over a canceled women’s sports event at a Yolo County library
ICONS and others sued after library staff shut down an August 2023 event on fairness in women's sports at a Davis, Calif., library. The case settled in May 2024: the county changed its policy and paid $70,000 in damages and fees.
“The First Amendment, however, requires that Defendants allow Plaintiffs to speak freely about the integrity of female athletics in library meeting rooms.” From the complaint, p. 2
Outcome: The case settled in May 2024: the county revised its meeting-room policy, let the groups hold their event, and paid $70,000 in damages and fees. Source
Athletes in ICONS-backed lawsuits
- Brooke Slusser, volleyball, San José State, from Texas · Slusser v. Mountain West
- Alyssa Sugai, volleyball, San José State, from Hawaii · Slusser v. Mountain West
More from ICONS
In the news
- An Olympic Champion’s Brother Is Dominating Girls’ Sports (The Daily Wire, July 16, 2026)
- Brooke Slusser Says San Jose State Failed Its Female Athletes, Then Doubled Down In Court (OutKick, March 11, 2026)
- Judge Tosses Most Claims In San Jose State Trans Volleyball Lawsuit (Cowboy State Daily, March 9, 2026)
- SJSU volleyball scandal lawsuit could be impacted by Supreme Court trans athlete cases after judge's ruling (Fox News, March 4, 2026)
- Title IX claims in San Jose State case hinge on Supreme Court decision (The National News Desk, March 4, 2026)
- 'Horrible' moments exposed for UNR volleyball players when they were roped into the SJSU Title IX scandal (Fox News, February 4, 2026)
- Santa Rosa women's volleyball players open up on trans teammate's alleged spikes to the head (Fox News, September 9, 2025)
- California track and field championship sees arrest and aerial banner amid transgender controversy (Fox News, May 30, 2025)
- Volleyball player who forfeited to SJSU trans athlete speaks out on ruined season after taking 'unfair' losses (Fox News, January 17, 2025)
- Federal Judge Denies Motion to Ban San José State Volleyball Player From Mountain West Tournament (Front Office Sports, November 25, 2024)
- Utah State Seeks To Join Lawsuit Against Mountain West Centering Around SJSU Transgender Volleyball Player (OutKick, November 18, 2024)
- Lawyers For SJSU Volleyball Plaintiffs Say Mountain West's Blaire Fleming Investigation 'Infected With Bias' (OutKick, November 17, 2024)
- SJSU volleyball captain, opposing players file Title IX lawsuit over transgender player (NBC Bay Area, November 14, 2024)
- 3 UW Volleyball Players Part Of Bombshell Lawsuit Over Trans Player (Cowboy State Daily, November 13, 2024)
- No Evidence SJSU Investigating Claim Trans Player Blaire Fleming Conspired To Throw Match, Injure Teammate (OutKick, November 7, 2024)
- College Volleyball’s Spartan Meltdown (Quillette, November 1, 2024)
- SJSU's Brooke Slusser Speaks Out On Fight Against NCAA: ‘Title IX Exists For A Reason’ EXCLUSIVE (OutKick, September 30, 2024)
- Teammate Of SJSU Transgender Volleyball Player Blaire Fleming Joins Lawsuit Against NCAA (OutKick, September 24, 2024)