Irvine Teens Make History at First Co-ed Boys & Girls State
This year’s American Legion California Boys & Girls State is the first fully co-ed program of its kind. In Irvine, teens are sharing their inspiring thoughts and experiences on what it means to be a part of history. Photo credit WK
This year, California became the first state in the nation to allow boys and girls to fully participate together in its American Legion California Boys & Girls State program, previously known as California Boys State.
The program, initially launched in Illinois in 1935 to foster civic engagement among teenage boys, has since expanded to operate in 49 states and Washington DC. In California, the American Legion introduced its Boys State program in 1937, and the California American Legion Auxiliary followed suit by creating its first Girls State program in 1940. Every Boys State program sends two delegates to participate in Boys Nation and every Girls State program sends two delegates to Girls Nation.
In February of 2021, a bill was introduced to the California Senate, requiring the California Boys State and California Girls State programs to be “substantially similar” if they continued to be segregated by gender. The bill passed in May of 2022, prompting the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary to align the California Boys State and California Girls State programs. One challenge they faced was the difference in program size, as California Boys State has approximately twice as many participants as California Girls State.
“The American Legion Boys State Commission, after unsuccessful negotiations with the Auxiliary about our programs being similar, voted to make our program co-ed,” said Tim Aboudara, Chief Counselor American Legion California Boys & Girls State, via Zoom. “Beginning this year we are American Legion California Boys & Girls State.”
While the American Legion Auxiliary continues to run its Girls State program, which Aboudara acknowledges has created some confusion, he feels the inclusion of girls in the Boys & Girls State program has been an enormous success. Approximately one-third of this year’s 920 delegates were girls.
Aboudara emphasized that the American Legion does not directly select participants for California Boys & Girls State. Each candidate, a high school junior, is nominated by his/her/their school. After candidates submit essays and undergo interviews with their local American Legion posts, the most impressive are selected to serve as delegates.
Although the percentage of girls in this year’s program was small, Aboudara says he was “exceptionally pleased” with their success. Girls won elections for major leadership positions including Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (an elected position within the program).
Even without the intervention of the California Senate, Aboudara says the inclusion of girls in the program was inevitable.
“It was painful for a lot of us, but when we got to a point where it was clear we were not going to be able to come to an agreement with the other program, our commission embraced it,” Aboudara said. “It doesn’t matter how we got to co-ed. We haven’t looked back.”
Although girls had equal opportunities to participate in Boys & Girls State, they were not eligible to be selected for Girls Nation, which is exclusively for participants of the American Legion Auxiliary programs. Girls were also ineligible for Boys Nation, which is not co-ed. Aboudara said the situation has captured the attention of the American Legion family at the national level.
When delegates learned that girls were barred from participating in either program, they passed legislation to boycott Boys Nation. However, after spirited debate during an afternoon forum with hundred of delegates, the Senate and Assembly withdrew the legislation from the governor’s desk. Instead, they decided to actively engage in the program they are trying to change.
“The two young men who were selected to represent California at Boys Nation, they committed to introducing legislation calling on the American Legion to make Boys Nation co-ed,” said Aboudara. “That is the first step in being heard.”
Now that Irvine’s delegates are back from California Boys & Girls State, they have experiences to reflect on and advice to share.
Courtney Hines
School: Orange County School of the Arts
Positions ran for/held: I ran for Supreme Court Justice and came in 9th for the ballots out of 40. The first 7 become justices. I was then appointed as the Head of Legal Council for the governor and Head of Judicial on the Supreme Court.
Best memory from Boys & Girls State: I will always remember the voices of the girls in the program this year. Seeing each woman support and uplift another, and more than this, women and men taking care of eachother, helped me see the significance in unity.
One thing you would do differently: I wish I knew from the beginning that everyone else felt as awkward as me. It would have been easier to start conversations, knowing that we’re all on the same boat.
Something you learned about politics, about yourself, or about life in general: I understand the significance of co-ed programs now, and strive for that form of equality in all Boys State programs. Having diversity provokes each of us to be more understanding and more willing to share ideas. We yield better results when it’s not just girls or just boys.
Best advice for future Boys & Girls State participants: Stand up for the things that you believe in. Fight for the opportunities that you deserve. Girls didn’t get the opportunity to go to Boys Nation this year, but you deserve that chance. If you use your voice to work towards it, maybe you can get it.
Antonia Park
School: University High School
Positions ran for/held: I was elected to the Assembly, and within the Assembly I was elected as the Majority Party Leader.
Best memory from Boys & Girls State: My favorite memory is singing happy birthday with my city to our assistant counselor Kaitlyn.
One thing you would do differently?: I would spend more time meeting people during breaks and eating periods. Boys and Girls State is a fantastic opportunity to meet people from all over California, and I have learned so much from the delegates I have met from other parts of California.
Something you learned about politics, about yourself, or about life in general: I learned how to advocate for issues I truly care about. In the Assembly, I advocated for a bill to allow female delegates to go to Boys Nation. Now, I am one of a large number of CBGS delegates advocating for this cause.
Best advice for future Boys & Girls State participants: Shoot for the stars! I recommend running for the highest position you feel comfortable with.
Jonathan Sandoval
School: Woodbridge High School
Positions: I originally ran for Senator, but then switched and ran for State Assembly which I won in a landslide. I also ran/volunteered for Speaker of the Assembly, Whig Majority Leader, and Party Platforming Committee Representative (someone who goes to the after hours meeting to talk about what the Whig/Federalist party stands for) for my city. I lost all three.
Best memory from Boys & Girls State: One of my two best memories was in the lunch line where a guy complemented my hat, and I complemented his, and from there we became best friends and found a great group of like-minded guys and played poker with the change we got from the vending machines.
My second best memory was when the Assembly almost unanimously passed a bill where instead of voting by saying "Aye" or "No," we had to say "Yes Daddy" or "No Mommy." We also had to call our Speaker of the Assembly "Big Daddy" and each other "Daddy" or "Mommy." It for sure got a little out of hand, but everyone had a great time and it really brought us all together with a lot of laughter.
One thing you would do differently: One thing that I would do differently is that I would have spoken out stronger on issues that I disagreed with when legislation in Assembly was being passed. That's not to say that I didn't speak out. I did, which made me disliked by some (many) of my peers, but there were some issues where I was simply so tired of voicing my opinions and getting booed, laughed at, or disrespected in other ways that I couldn't be bothered too. I wish that I was able to just take a few more punches and get my ideas out there.
Something you learned about politics, about yourself, or about life in general: I learned that politics can get heated fast. When we got off the bus we were randomly sorted into parties, Whig and Federalist, and instantly a sense of "tribalism," for lack of a better term, emerged. We would have died for our parties for no reason. It was exactly what George Washington warned about in his Farewell Address.
I also learned the true meaning of a single day feeling like weeks. The days were incredibly long, but when Friday night came, we all were wondering where the time went.
Best advice for future Boys & Girls State participants: Run for the office that you think would be the most fun even if its not the highest office. And lastly, stay strong to your values, even if you think everyone else disagrees. On many votes in the Assembly I was the only "Aye" or "No" vote, so stay radically you!
Kristie To
School: Northwood High School
Positions ran for/held: State Assemblyman
Best memory from Boys & Girls State: I loved building a sense of community within my "city," or council group, and then working together to create art, a city seal, and more for our city expo on the last day of the program.
One thing you would do differently: I would go in reaching for the stars because you never know what position you will be capable of getting!
Something you learned about politics, about yourself, or about life in general: I loved learning about the legislative cycle and how a bill goes through the Senate, Assembly, and can be signed by the governor.
Best advice for future Boys & Girls State participants: Go in with an open mindset!
Interesting in applying to American Legion California Boys & Girls State? Our local American Legion Post (291) sponsors 25 participants each year. Only students in their junior year of high school can apply. Ask your high school about the process to be recommended for an interview with the American Legion to attend Boys & Girls State.