A California gubernatorial candidate has sparked heated debate after suggesting Los Angeles could explore hosting a gender-neutral Olympics when the Games come to the city in 2028.
Betty Yee, a Democrat running for governor and former two-term state controller, made the controversial remarks during an appearance on Piers Morgan’s show this week. When asked about the increasingly divisive issue of transgender athletes in competitive sports, Yee offered an unusual proposal.
“I don’t think we’re going to get that tomorrow, but I think it’s a conversation worth having,” Yee said when Morgan pressed her on whether she would support a gender-neutral Olympics. “We need to understand what the attributes are of athletes across the spectrum.”
The 67-year-old politician, who currently serves as vice-chair of the California Democratic Party, had earlier in the interview stated her position clearly: “I think transgender female athletes are women athletes and they should be able to compete.”
The exchange took a particularly striking turn when Morgan challenged Yee to name an Olympic sport where male athletes would not hold an advantage over female competitors. Her response left the British broadcaster visibly stunned.
“I think you can see female athletes where, particularly in track and field, where agility…” Yee began, before Morgan interrupted in apparent disbelief. The comparison is especially stark in events like the 100-meter dash, where the men’s world record is nearly a full second faster than the women’s mark.
The timing of Yee’s comments places her at odds with recent federal policy. President Trump signed an executive order in February aimed at banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s divisions, framing it as “keeping men out of women’s sports.”
California, however, has maintained its own course, continuing to permit trans athletes to compete in women’s divisions. This defiance prompted the Trump administration to file suit against both the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation.
The state has witnessed several high-profile incidents that have intensified the debate. At the California Interscholastic Federation state finals in late May, a transgender athlete won gold medals in both the high jump and triple jump, generating significant backlash. Earlier in February, a trans high school basketball player drew attention for dominating in the women’s division, though the athlete did not participate in their team’s subsequent playoff game amid parental protests.
Even California’s current governor, Gavin Newsom, has acknowledged the complexity of the issue while trying to thread a political needle. “My position is that I don’t think it’s fair, but I also think it’s demeaning to talk down to people, and to belittle the trans community,” Newsom said. “And I don’t like the way the right wing talks about the trans community. These people just want to survive.”
Yee’s willingness to entertain the idea of restructuring Olympic competition along gender-neutral lines represents one of the more radical proposals yet offered by a mainstream political candidate. Whether this positions her as forward-thinking or out of touch with public sentiment may become clearer as California’s gubernatorial race progresses and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics draw closer.
