hino Valley Unified School District Board President Sonja Shaw publicly addressed concerns about biological males competing in female athletics during a recent board meeting, tearing up a cease and desist letter she received over her comments on social media.
Shaw, who recently announced her candidacy for California State Superintendent, made it clear that she will continue to speak out on what she describes as unfairness in girls’ sports, specifically mentioning an incident where a transgender athlete secured the top position in California girls’ track.
“I’m talking as a mother of two female athletes,” Shaw declared during the meeting. “I’m talking as a community member and an advocate of female athletes. I fight for all girls.”
The controversy centers around an Ayala High School female athlete, Jenna Morales, who Shaw noted is currently ranked second in the state. According to Shaw, Morales lost her first-place position to a transgender competitor.
“Our Ayala student, our Chino Valley student has had that stolen and ripped away from her,” Shaw stated emphatically.
The board president revealed she had received a cease and desist letter regarding comments she made on her personal social media accounts about biological males participating in girls’ sports. In a dramatic moment during the meeting, Shaw physically tore up the letter, making her position unmistakably clear.
“I also have First Amendment rights and I will never shut up in regards to that,” Shaw asserted, holding up the torn document. “So this cease and desist, that’s what I feel about that cease and desist.”
Shaw emphasized that her advocacy extends beyond sports to include concerns about safety in locker rooms and restrooms. She framed her position as protecting girls’ rights under Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in schools receiving federal funding.
“That I will go to my grave fighting for our girls. You can beat me up, you can say whatever you want, put death threats until our girls have safety – I will not stop this fight,” Shaw declared.
The incident occurs amidst growing national debate about transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports, with various states introducing legislation on the matter. Shaw’s outspoken position and her new campaign for California State Superintendent suggest this issue will remain at the forefront of educational policy discussions in California.
Neither the sender of the cease and desist letter nor representatives for the athlete who placed first in the track competition have publicly responded to Shaw’s comments as of press time.
