“A California school forfeits a volleyball game due to the inclusion of transgender athlete AB Hernandez, sparking outrage. Hernandez’s mother speaks out against discrimination and harassment.”
A California high school’s decision to forfeit a volleyball game after transgender athlete AB Hernandez was included in the lineup has sparked outrage and controversy. The incident, which occurred on August 15, 2024, when the Jurupa Valley High School team was set to face Riverside Poly High School, has brought forward a heated debate on transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports.
The Riverside Poly High School girls’ volleyball team refused to play, citing concerns over Hernandez’s inclusion as a transgender player, despite her meeting all requirements to compete. In response, Riverside Poly issued a statement expressing their commitment to providing a “safe, positive environment” for athletes. However, several parents have since admitted that the decision to forfeit the game was made because of Hernandez’s presence on the team, and not by the athletes themselves.
Amanda Vickers, a member of the Riverside Unified School District board, made a public statement linking the forfeited match to the controversial case of Payton McNabb, a volleyball player who suffered permanent brain damage after a trans athlete’s spike in 2022. Vickers stated: “Tonight, the girls of Riverside Poly High School, they’re not going to end up like Payton McNabb.”
Mother of Trans Athlete Responds: ‘My Daughter is Not the Problem’
Hernandez’s mother, Nereyda, responded to Vickers’ remarks during a meeting with the Riverside Unified School District board on August 21, where local parents voiced their support for the forfeit. In an impassioned statement, Nereyda accused school officials of fostering an environment of harassment against her child.
“My daughter is not the problem,” she said. “The problem is coordinated external efforts often led by individuals that travel from district to district… to spread fear and put parents against each other using religion as a shield for discrimination.”
Nereyda went on to criticize Vickers for her comments, claiming that as a board member, Vickers had failed to protect all children and had instead “entertained and welcomed harassment” toward her daughter. “You have an oath to protect, to support all children, not just the ones that fit your ideas, your beliefs,” she added.
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Hernandez’s Prior Experience with Harassment
AB Hernandez has faced multiple instances of discrimination and harassment during her athletic career. Earlier this year, during a track meet at Yorba Linda High School, Hernandez was heckled by over 30 adults, including three school board members. The verbal abuse even disrupted her race, resulting in a false start.
In speaking about the incident, Hernandez reflected, “There’s nothing I can do about people’s actions, just focus on my own. I’m still a child, you’re an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person.” Hernandez’s resilience in the face of adversity has garnered national attention, but it has also sparked backlash from certain groups that oppose the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Trump’s Stance on Transgender Athletes in School Sports
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The controversy surrounding transgender athletes’ participation in school sports also ties into broader political discussions, including those raised by former President Donald Trump. On August 22, 2024, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, threatening to withhold funding from California school districts that do not adhere to his policies regarding transgender athletes.
His statement referenced a recent lawsuit he filed against the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), which allows transgender athletes to compete in girls’ school sports. Trump’s administration argues that the policy violates federal anti-discrimination laws, and his executive order from February 2024 seeks to remove federal funding from schools allowing transgender women or girls to compete in female sports.
Trump has long been vocal about his opposition to transgender participation in women’s sports, citing concerns over fairness and safety. He claimed in his executive order that the policy “deprives women and girls of fair athletic opportunities,” calling it a “war on women’s sports.”
The Growing Debate Over Transgender Rights in Sports
The issue of transgender athletes’ rights in school sports has become one of the most contentious topics in recent years. Critics argue that allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports undermines fairness, while supporters emphasize the need for inclusivity and equal opportunities for all athletes, regardless of gender identity.
For AB Hernandez and her family, the road to acceptance has been fraught with challenges, but they remain steadfast in their commitment to overcoming discrimination and standing up for their rights. Hernandez’s mother ended her statement by reiterating the importance of standing up for all children: “This has nothing to do with fairness in sports and everything to do with erasing transgender children.”
