Controversial Transgender Athlete Debate Heats Up in California High School Volleyball
California High School Faces Mounting Forfeits Over Transgender Player
The girls’ volleyball team at Jurupa Valley High School in California is experiencing a wave of forfeited matches due to controversy surrounding a transgender athlete on their roster. Two more schools—Rim of the World High School and Orange Vista High School—recently canceled scheduled games against Jurupa Valley, adding to a growing list of forfeits. The school district responded by acknowledging the disappointment faced by their athletes while emphasizing their legal obligation to follow California Education Code 221.5(f), which protects students from discrimination based on gender identity and requires schools to permit participation on athletic teams consistent with a student’s gender identity.
Family Perspectives Emerge as Controversy Intensifies
The transgender athlete at the center of the controversy, AB Hernandez, has been defended by her mother, Nereyda Hernandez, who provided an exclusive statement emphasizing understanding and empathy. “I understand the discomfort some may feel, because I was once there, too. The difference is, I chose to learn, to grow, and to open my heart,” she said. Nereyda described her child as “petite” and skilled, suggesting that physical advantages are not a factor. She poignantly noted that her child is “so innocent, she didn’t even realize the forfeited games were because of her.” Meanwhile, Maribel Munoz, mother of another player on the team who has played alongside Hernandez for three years, expressed frustration with the school’s handling of the situation, becoming the first parent of a teammate to speak out against the school’s policies.
The Controversy Extends Beyond Volleyball
This isn’t the first time AB Hernandez and Jurupa Valley High School have found themselves in the national spotlight. During the spring track and field season, Hernandez competed in girls’ events and won state titles in both long jump and triple jump, sparking protests from female athletes and their families who often wore “Save Girls Sports” shirts at competitions. The situation appeared to draw attention from then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, who posted a message advising California not to allow transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports, though he didn’t specifically name Hernandez. The controversy has now intensified during Hernandez’s senior year volleyball season.
School Board Meeting Becomes Battleground for Opposing Views
Following the initial forfeit by Riverside Poly High School, parents from both sides of the debate attended a Riverside Unified School District board meeting to voice their opinions. Nereyda Hernandez criticized board member Amanda Vickers for interviewing with Fox News Digital about the forfeit, stating, “You have an oath to protect, to support all children, not just the ones that fit your ideas, your beliefs.” She argued that the issue was about “erasing transgender children” rather than fairness in sports. On the opposing side, parent Maria Correo supported the Riverside Poly players’ decision to forfeit and criticized parents who support transgender children competing in girls’ sports, using a controversial analogy comparing gender identity to drug use.
Legal and Political Dimensions Escalate the Debate
The controversy has taken on legal and political dimensions as well. In July, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) for policies allowing transgender girls to compete in girls’ sports, challenging the state’s approach that conflicts with an executive order signed by President Trump in February. Trump has continued to pressure California on this issue, recently posting, “Any California school district that doesn’t adhere to our Transgender policies, will not be funded.” This federal-state conflict underscores the broader national debate about transgender athletes in sports, with California becoming a key battleground.
Communities Divided as Season Continues
As Jurupa Valley’s volleyball season continues through mid-October, the team finds itself at the center of a deeply divisive cultural and political issue that extends far beyond high school sports. The school district has expressed pride in their team’s “willingness to play any team and represent their school and our district with pride,” and is working to find additional matches to replace the forfeited games. However, the growing number of forfeits highlights how deeply entrenched both sides have become in this debate. While supporters of transgender inclusion cite the importance of dignity, acceptance, and legal protections for all students, those opposing such policies argue for competitive fairness and the protection of opportunities for biological females in sports. With federal lawsuits pending and national political attention focused on the issue, this local high school volleyball team has become emblematic of one of America’s most contentious contemporary cultural debates.
