The mother of controversial transgender athlete AB Hernandez insisted ‘my daughter is not the problem’ as parents clashed during an emotional school board meeting in California.
Emotions ran high during the debate, which came a week after a girls’ high school volleyball team pulled out of a game against Hernandez’s school, Jurupa Valley.
It was claimed at the time that the forfeit was in opposition to Hernandez being on the Jurupa Valley team.
On Thursday, parents turned up to speak at the Riverside Unified School District board meeting, with Hernandez’s mother Nereyda Hernandez accusing one official of ‘moral failure’ and ‘welcoming harassment.’
‘You actually entertained and welcomed harassment to my child,’ she said to Amanda Vickers, who spoke to Fox News over last week’s forfeit.
‘You are a board member. You have an oath to protect, to support all children, not just the ones that fit your ideas, your beliefs.’
Transgender athlete AB Hernandez (R) dominated a girls’ track meet in California this year
Hernandez continued: ‘When you allow or tolerate targeted harassment, whether online, in person or allowing false narratives to be spread at board meetings, you are only failing morally.’
She insisted her ‘daughter is not the problem’, pointing the finger instead at ‘coordinated external efforts… to spread fear and pit parents against each other using religion as a shield for discrimination.
‘This has nothing to do with fairness in sports and everything to do with erasing transgender children. My daughter is a student, an athlete and a girl and she deserves the same protections and dignity as every other child.’
Another parent accused the board of ‘gross negligence’ and putting Hernandez ‘in danger’, claiming the teen has been ‘stalked (and) followed’.
But there were also some who spoke in support of the Riverside Poly players, including Maria Correo, who condemned parents who encourage transgender athletes to play in girls’ sports.
‘Poly girls, we stand with you. Keep fighting, because these parents that support their confused child are the problem,’ Correo said.
‘If my child was on drugs, I would love him, but guess what? I would tell him the truth: drugs are bad for you. I would not feed him more drugs.’
Hernandez hit the headlines earlier this summer after dominating a female track meet in California – in defiance of Donald Trump’s executive order to ‘Keep Men Out of Women’s Sports’.
Hernandez last year helped Jurupa Valley to a championship and undefeated league season
Representing Jurupa Valley, Hernandez claimed gold in the high jump and triple jump at the California Interscholastic Federation state finals – despite opposition from protestors and parents.
Hernandez last year also helped the Jurupa Valley Lady Jags to a volleyball championship and an undefeated league season.
The Lady Jags were due to face Riverside Poly last Friday but the Bears announced that its girls’ volleyball team would not take to the court.
‘This match will be recorded as a forfeit in non-league standings,’ the school said in a statement. ‘We understand this is disappointing for our athletes, families, and supporters, and we appreciate the community’s understanding.
‘We remain committed to providing a safe, positive environment for all student-athletes throughout the season.’
The school did not specify the reason for their withdrawal but Vickers said it was because Hernandez is on the Jurupa Valley roster once more.
She also claimed that some players’ parents were planning to protest against the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
‘I do believe it is because they are playing AB Hernandez, and that a decision was made that the students didn’t want to,’ she told Fox News.
Donald Trump signed an executive order entitled: ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’
‘I did get a message yesterday that there (were) parents (of players) that were wearing “Save Girls Sports” shirts. So they were kind of prepared for a protest today.’
Vickers added: ‘What this is about is there is a difference between biological girls and biological boys. And, tonight, the girls of Riverside Polly High School, they’re not going to end up like Payton McNabb.’
McNabb, a former high school volleyball player in North Carolina, suffered ‘impaired vision, partial paralysis on her right side, and anxiety and depression’ after being struck in the head by a spike from a transgender athlete.
Back in May, days before before the state track championships, the CIF announced a new policy in response to backlash surrounding Hernandez’s success.
Under the change, the federation allowed an additional student to compete and medal in the events where Hernandez qualified.
Amid the controversy, President Trump threatened to hold back ‘large scale Federal Funding’ and blasted California governor Gavin Newsom who he claims has continued to ‘ILLEGALLY allow “MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS.”‘
The US Department of Justice late sued the California Department of Education and California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) over its ‘illegal’ policies on transgender athletes in sports.
