Activist athletes urge California girls' track title contenders to stand up to trans inclusion at state meet

Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Ryan Bangert explains the impact and legal protection of potential protests by student athletes at the upcoming California track and field state championship.

California high school girls' track and field athletes will compete in the meet of their lives this weekend under the national spotlight at the state championship in Clovis. 

The meet will double as a battleground for the ongoing culture war over trans athletes in girls' sports, with a trans athlete set to compete in multiple girls' events. Protests and demonstrations are expected by spectators. Whether the athletes protest is yet to be seen. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Several prominent former women's athletes who have been impacted by trans inclusion in their careers have expressed support for the girls competing to "stand up" against the California Interscholastic Federation during the event: 

Paula Scanlan, former University of Pennsylvania swimmer, testifies during the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution and Limited Government hearing on gender-affirming care for children. (Jasper Colt-USA TODAY)

Scanlan, a former UPenn swimmer, was forced to share a team and locker room with Lia Thomas during the 2021-22 women's swimming season. Scanlan became the first UPenn women's swimmer to speak out against the school for allowing Thomas to compete with females, after the controversial season ended.

Scanlan skewered California Governor Gavin Newsom for letting the situation in the state get to this point, and encouraged all females athlete to "stand up."

"It’s make or break for California. This is no longer a bipartisan issue, and even democrats see that. Gavin Newsom couldn’t be more out of touch