Newsom office source responds to planned protest against trans athlete at state playoff girls' track meet

California girls' high school athletes Reese Hogan, Julia Teven, Olivia Viola and Lily Ingallinera reflected on their experience competing against a trans athlete in a postseason meet, as the state continues to defend its policies on gender eligibility.

The upcoming California high school girls' track and field postseason is set to feature a trans athlete from Jurupa Valley High School (JVHS).

A protest, organized by former NCAA women's soccer player Sophia Lorey, will be held at the site of the California Interscholastic Southern Section, Division 3, preliminaries on Saturday. Lorey, a prominent "Save Girls' Sports" activist in the state, organized a similar protest at the same round last year, bringing national attention to the state playoffs. The issue eventually caught the attention of President Donald Trump, who, in a Truth Social post, called out Gov. Gavin Newsom for his state's continued policies that allowed biological males to compete in girls' sports.

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Fox News Digital asked Newsom's press office for a response to the upcoming protest and competition involving the trans athlete.

A source at the governor's office provided a statement to Fox News Digital in response.

"The Governor has said discussions on this issue should be guided by fairness, dignity, and respect. He rejects the right wing’s cynical attempt to weaponize this debate as an excuse to vilify individual kids. The Governor’s position is simple: stand with all kids and stand up to bullies," the statement read.

"California is one of 22 states that have laws requiring students be permitted to participate in sex-segregated school sports consistent with their gender identity. California passed this