California must protect girls’ sports as an Olympic mom weighs leaving

California should keep boys out of girls’ sports. Olympic bobsledder Kaillie Humphries told OutKick, “I have considered moving to other states because of it, for sure,” citing women’s sports and her children’s future schooling. California should keep boys out of girls' sports, and a three-time Olympic gold medalist's plans show what its current law¹ asks families to give up.

On Oct. 13, OutKick reporter Jackson Thompson posted that Kaillie Humphries plans to vote Republican in California's upcoming gubernatorial election. Thompson's post says Humphries is pregnant with her second child and worries about California's policies allowing males in girls' sports².

Asked whether a daughter could influence her decision to remain in California under those policies, Humphries said, 'It could.'¹

“I have considered moving to other states because of it, for sure,”

A daughter could change where Humphries stays

The policy she is weighing is state law. A source in Gov. Gavin Newsom's office says California passed it in 2013 as AB 1266, and Gov. Jerry Brown signed it³. OutKick reports that California law permits students to participate in school athletic teams and competitions consistent with their gender identity¹.

OutKick reports that a trans athlete for Jurupa Valley High School placed first in the triple jump and high jump and second in the long jump at last year's girls' state finals³. Humphries said allowing boys to take opportunities from girls in sports is unfair.

Newsom's office says the governor wants the discussion 'guided by fairness, dignity, and respect.' Olympic gold medalist Nancy Hogshead answers: 'Governor Newsom seems to exclude girls from his own standard of fairness, dignity and respect.'³ Which girl in that triple jump pit was owed the dignity?

1. 2013California passed AB 1266
2. 2024Humphries gave birth to her son
3. Oct. 2XX-XY Athletics announced its investment in TrailBlazeHer
4. Oct. 13Jackson Thompson posted Humphries’s plan to vote Republican in California’s gubernatorial election

The IOC is moving toward sex-based categories

The IOC is drawing the sex-based line that California refuses to draw.

OutKick reports that the International Olympic Committee adopted a policy in March restricting eligibility for the women's category at IOC events, beginning with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. By OutKick's account, the policy relies on one-time SRY gene screening, with specified rare exceptions, and does not reach grassroots or recreational sports¹.

Fox News Digital reports that Humphries supports Trump's proposed mandatory genetic sex testing to protect the women's category.

Washington has already acted on schools. Executive Order 14201, 'Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports,' signed Feb. 5, 2025, makes federal funds conditional on educational programs that keep males out of women's sports⁴. The Trump Justice Department sued California state agencies over alleged Title IX violations last July, OutKick reports³.

If the Olympic women's category screens for sex before the 2028 Games, what is Sacramento's reason for leaving girls' school teams open to males?

Teammates disagree with Humphries

Humphries told OutKick her advocacy has created 'awkward, tense moments' with some Team USA teammates¹. She acknowledges that some teammates hold a different view.

Humphries says she wants other female athletes to have the opportunities she had because the category remained for biological females.

She told Fox News Digital, 'I think it's very important that women have their own category to compete in.'⁵ Humphries is paying for her position with friendships, and California's girls are being asked to pay with their places on the team.

Female athletes should not have to choose

Protecting the girls' category and letting women build families are the same fight.

Humphries told OutKick that IVF and endometriosis forced her to choose among starting a family, her medical needs and her career: 'And it was excruciating having to make that choice.' XX-XY Athletics announced Oct. 2 that it was expanding its Courage Wins initiative through an investment in TrailBlazeHer, the foundation Humphries established with her husband¹.

The foundation's Little Olympians Program provides financial assistance to Olympic athletes for family planning, with eligible expenses that include IVF, adoption fees, childcare and maternity or paternity care. For every $50,000 raised, the foundation will award $10,000 grants to five athletes⁶.

Humphries has lived the trade-off: XX-XY Athletics says she gave birth to her son in 2024, returned to elite competition 18 months later and won two medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics⁷.

Female athletes should not have to choose between a career and a family. Parents in California will decide that choice at the ballot box in the coming gubernatorial election, so ask every candidate for governor one question: will you keep boys out of girls' sports?

Sources

1. Olympic legend Kaillie Humphries opens up on impact of women's sports advocacy on Team USA relationships | OutKick
2. @JackThompsonFOX on X, 2026-10-13: Olympic legend Kaillie Humphries plans to vote Republican in California's upcoming gubernatorial election. As she is currently pregnant with her second child, she worries about the state's ongoing policies that allow males in girls' sports, and if she has, 2026-10-13
3. Olympic gold medalists rip Newsom for California's trans athlete situation ahead of protested track meet | OutKick
4. Federal Register, 90 FR 9279
5. US Olympian Kaillie Humphries says she's Republican who voted for Trump | Fox News
6. Our Programs
7. Kendall Kotzmacher Named Courage Wins Champion | XX-XY Athletics