Arroyo Grande, Calif. – On Sept. 21, a candidate forum for Lucia Mar Unified School District trustee positions was abruptly cleared of its audience after Republican Assembly hopeful Shannon Kessler was told to conceal her “Save Girls Sports” shirt. Kessler, who founded Save Girls Sports Central Coast, says the League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County and the American Association of University Women’s 5 Cities Pismo Beach Branch enforced the rule unevenly, prompting her to call the action a violation of her First Amendment rights.
What happened at the forum
The forum, held at Arroyo Grande High School, was organized by the League of Women Voters and the AAUW branch. According to Kessler, the host announced a “violation” of forum rules and ordered everyone to leave, stating, “From this point on, this forum has been cancelled, because of that violation, we can not proceed.” The audience was dismissed, and the candidates answered written questions on camera.
Kessler entered the room wearing a shirt that read “Save Girls Sports” on the front and displayed her name and campaign information on the back. When asked to cover the shirt, she first offered to hide the campaign details with a jacket, but organizers insisted the front message also be concealed, labeling it an “anti‑trans hateful message.” Kessler refused at first, then agreed to cover the shirt with a borrowed jacket after the audience was told they would be ejected if they did not comply.
Allegations of unequal enforcement
Kessler says other attendees were not subject to the same treatment. A man wearing a “Trans kids belong” shirt and several candidates with campaign literature were allowed to remain visible. “I don’t have a problem with him wearing that shirt,” Kessler said of the transgender‑advocacy shirt, adding that she believes the organizer’s decision was based on viewpoint rather than a neutral policy.
The League’s published forum rules prohibit campaign signs, banners, buttons, clothing and literature inside the forum room, while allowing campaign materials in a designated area outside. Organizers claim they can refuse entry to attendees wearing clothing deemed political or disruptive.
Police involvement and aftermath
Arroyo Grande police records show a disturbance‑of‑the‑peace call at the high school at 6:07 p.m. on Sept. 21, though the log does not detail the dispute and officers did not enter the room. After Kessler covered her shirt, the meeting continued without an audience, with candidates responding to pre‑submitted written questions.
Kessler described the episode as “viewpoint discrimination” and a breach of her First Amendment rights. She plans to continue advocating for policies that require sports participation to be based on biological sex, a stance she has taken before the Lucia Mar board.
Background on the local debate
The incident occurs amid a prolonged local debate over transgender students’ participation in girls’ sports and locker‑room access. In May 2025, the Lucia Mar board voted 5‑2 against a resolution supporting Title IX and fairness in girls’ sports, citing concerns that the proposal would commit the district to advocacy directed at state and federal officials and the California Interscholastic Federation.
Kessler, challenging Democratic Assemblymember Dawn Addis, says her advocacy extends beyond the election and that she will keep pressing school officials on the issue. “We’re not against any individuals,” she said. “We’re against this state policy.”
Responses from organizers and the school district
OutKick reached out for comment. The League of Women Voters did not immediately respond. The Lucia Mar School District clarified that the forum was not a school‑ or district‑sponsored event; the League rented the high school facilities through the district’s facilities‑use process and had no role in planning, rule‑setting, or audience management.
Both the League and the AAUW branch maintain that their forum rules are intended to keep the event focused on candidate questions and to prevent political messaging from disrupting the process.
Implications for free‑speech and local governance
The episode highlights the tension between community‑organized candidate forums and the desire of advocacy groups to enforce neutral dress codes. While the organizers argue the rules are content‑neutral, critics like Kessler see selective enforcement as a threat to free expression, especially on the contentious issue of transgender athletes in girls’ sports.
Local observers note that the incident may influence future forum policies and could become a flashpoint in the broader state‑wide debate over how schools handle gender‑identity issues. For now, the League says it will continue to enforce its existing guidelines, while Kessler vows to keep fighting for policies that protect the rights of biological females in school athletics.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
