By Sarah Holliday

Over the weekend, three states saw two developments: biological males winning girls’ awards and girls refusing to accept it passively.

Oregon: A Silent Stand on the Podium

At the Oregon state track and field championship, seniors Reese Eckard and Alexa Anderson of Ida B. Wells High School made a fearless statement. After placing third and fourth in the girls’ high jump, they refused to share the podium with a biological male competitor. In an act of protest, they stepped off the medal stand and turned away during the ceremony, drawing national attention.

Their stance wasn’t without pushback. An official pressed them to return, but the girls held firm, walking away to stand on the sidelines. According to Fox News, their actions sparked a firestorm of support online. Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer and fierce advocate for women’s sports, celebrated their courage on X: “Two female athletes in Oregon refused to stand on the podium because a boy was awarded a place. Girls have had enough.” The influential account Libs of TikTok echoed the sentiment, noting, “These girls have had enough of the madness. This insanity will end when more courageous girls stand against it.”

The America First Policy Institute amplified the issue, filing a Title IX complaint against Oregon on May 27, accusing the state of violating federal law by allowing biological males in girls’ sports. “Every girl deserves a fair shot — on the field, on the podium, and in life,” said Jessica Hart Steinmann, AFPI’s executive general counsel. “When state institutions knowingly force young women to compete against biological males, they’re violating federal law and sending a devastating message to female athletes across the country.”

Anderson herself clarified their intent to Fox News Digital. “We didn’t refuse to stand on the podium out of hate,” she said. “We did it because someone has to say this isn’t right. In order to protect the integrity and fairness of girls’ sports, we must stand up for what is right.”

California: Banners and Clashes

In Clovis, California, Saturday’s state track and field championship became a flashpoint for similar tensions. Transgender-identifying athlete A.B. Hernandez, a 16-year-old junior from Jurupa Valley High School, dominated the girls’ events. He took gold medals in the triple jump and high jump as well as a silver in the long jump. The victories came under intense protest as an aerial banner flew high reading, “No Boys in Girls’ Sports.”

Outside the stadium, during Friday’s preliminary round, a violent clash led to the arrest of an LGBT activist who, wielding a flagpole, shattered a car window during a confrontation with a man who responded with pepper spray. The Clovis Police Department charged Kroll with assault with a weapon and obstructing an officer. “We don’t have room for violence or property damage or anything like that,” said Sergeant Chris Hutchison. Kim Jones, co-founder of the Independent Council for Women’s Sports, stressed that “California is beginning to reap the consequences of defying federal law and brazenly harming girls.”

She continued: “How long will Governor Newsom and legislators in this state continue to prioritize granting a few boys the right to take opportunities and recognition away from girls? Not one single boy should ever be in girls’ sports. It’s the easiest problem in the world to solve — and the most brazen public ‘screw you’ to female athletes by Democrat leadership. Since when do we tell a single boy he is more important than every girl in the competition? That he has the right to ruin sports for all of them? It’s time for California to pay, and it’s time to right these wrongs.”

As Breitbart reported, “The case drew the attention of President Trump earlier this week, who, in a Truth Social post, threatened to cut state funding and order local authorities to prevent any trans athlete from competing in a girls’ category.” Ultimately, “The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) responded by expanding its competitor pool and offering medals to any female athlete beaten by a trans competitor.”

Washington: Cheers for Second Place

In Washington, the 2A High School Track and Field Championships became a stage for both protest and solidarity. Trans-identifying athlete Veronica Garcia of East Valley High School won the girls’ 400-meter state title, edging out West Spokane’s Lauren Matthew. But the crowd’s reaction told a different story. Boos rained down on Garcia, while cheers erupted for Matthew, the second-place finisher.

Female athletes stood united, hands behind their backs in a silent show of dissent, while one team donned “Keep Women’s Sports Female” t-shirts before and after the race. Gaines also addressed this incident, writing, “Who’s shocked? Congratulations to Lauren Matthew, the real Washington State Champion in the girls’ 400m.”

The Bigger Picture

President Trump’s executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” signed shortly after his inauguration, set a bold precedent by threatening to withhold federal funding from schools that allow biological males to compete in girls’ events. But ultimately, that policy underscored the growing national resolve to protect the integrity of women’s athletics.

From Oregon’s silent podium protests to California’s defiant banners and Washington’s roaring support for true champions, young women are taking a stand. These athletes, amplified by voices like Riley Gaines and backed by groups like the America First Policy Institute, are driving a seismic shift in the trans-athlete debate. What began as a few acts of courage has grown into a nationwide cry for fairness to ensure every girl has an equal shot at victory.

As the movement continues to gain momentum, these bold actions appear to be reshaping the future of women’s sports, with fairness at its core.

Sarah Holliday is a reporter at The Washington Stand.