Dispute Over T-Shirt Causes Disruption at California Candidate Forum

A California women’s sports advocate faced controversy at a school board candidate forum due to her “Save Girls Sports” shirt. Shannon Kessler, a Republican candidate for California’s 30th Assembly District, reported that organizers asked her to cover her shirt at a September 21 event, hosted by the League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County and the American Association of University Women’s 5 Cities Pismo Beach Branch.

The forum, set at Arroyo Grande High School, was disrupted when organizers identified a “violation” because of the campaign-related shirt. The event was canceled for attendees after identifying campaign slogans in the forum, as seen in provided footage. The forum proceeded without a live audience, with candidates answering pre-submitted questions on camera.

Kessler explained she entered the forum wearing a shirt promoting women’s sports rights and was told it broke event rules. She understood that both her activism message and campaign information on the shirt were in question. Initially, she offered to cover the campaign part but later agreed to cover the front section.

Footage from the event showed the host announcing the cancellation due to a violation, asking attendees to leave. Kessler stated she argued the slogan was supportive of her advocacy against transgender athletes in girls’ sports, not purely campaign-related.

She noted the different treatment of others wearing political messages, such as a “Trans kids belong” shirt, indicating possible enforcement inconsistencies. Forum rules barred all campaign signs, clothing, and literature within the room. The venue allowed political materials only outside the forum space.

Kessler’s group was informed to obey these regulations, with threats to involve law enforcement if they refused. Police records confirmed a disturbance call linked to the location and date but did not specify further details.

Kessler eventually concealed her shirt with a jacket, yet the event continued to exclude the audience. She accused organizers of discriminating against her viewpoint, raising concerns over potential First Amendment rights infringement.

This incident fits into broader discussions around transgender students’ inclusion in school sports. Kessler, who founded Save Girls Sports Central Coast in March 2025, continues her campaign aimed at restricting sports participation to biological sex, emphasizing her focus on policy change beyond her election bid.

Questions regarding the forum’s administration and enforcement of rules were redirected to the event organizers, with the Lucia Mar School District clarifying the forum’s independence from school sponsorship. In May 2025, the district had rejected a Title IX support resolution proposed by Kessler, which aimed to advocate for policy changes at higher governance levels.