Senator Ted Cruz has condemned two California women accused of jeering teenage girls protesting against a transgender volleyball player at a high school game.
The Texas Republican reposted a photo on X showing the pair appearing to make explicit gestures toward students wearing shirts reading ‘Save Girls’ Sports.’
‘If you do this to little girls, your heart has turned entirely dark,’ Cruz wrote on Friday.
The image was originally taken by Sophia Lorey, outreach director for the California Family Council, at a state playoff game between Jurupa Valley High School and Valencia High School. The match included Jurupa Valley’s transgender player, AB Hernandez, according to reports.
Jurupa Valley lost in straight sets to Valencia, but the game was overshadowed by protests inside the gym.
Two former Jurupa Valley players, Hadeel Hazameh and Alyssa McPherson, were among those holding signs after stepping away from the team in September.
Senator Ted Cruz has condemned two California women accused of jeering teenage girls protesting against a transgender volleyball player at a high school game
Two former Jurupa Valley players, Hadeel Hazameh and Alyssa McPherson, were among those holding signs and wearing shirts after stepping away from the team in September
The Texas Republican shared showing the pair making explicit gestures toward students
Both girls have filed a lawsuit against the Jurupa Unified School District, alleging they were forced to share a court and locker room with a biological male. The suit also accuses Hernandez of sexual harassment during practices and games.
‘Beyond the locker room, A.H. engaged in unwelcomed and offensive contact, including slapping and/or placing his hands on female players’ buttocks,’ the filing states.
Hernandez’s mother has denied the claims, telling the East Bay Times the lawsuit contains ‘defamation, false claims, fabricated evidence, harassment and perjury.’ She did not give specific examples.
The controversy has plunged Jurupa Valley’s volleyball season into turmoil. Eight schools have now forfeited scheduled matches rather than face the team. Patriot High School became the eighth to do so in late September.
In a statement to Fox News, Jurupa Valley confirmed: ‘We can confirm the Patriot High School volleyball team will forfeit their September 26 match.’
The repeated cancellations have left the team scrambling to find opponents. Three current and former players have also launched legal action through the group Advocates for Faith & Freedom.
Cruz reposted the image onto his account X and called out the two women in the picture
Transgender athlete AB Hernandez (right) has won state medals in the long jump and triple jump. She’s currently a member of the Jurupa Valley girls volleyball team
From left, plaintiffs Hadeel Hazameh, Alyssa McPherson and Madison McPherson have launched a lawsuit against Hernandez
Their attorney said: ‘Girls’ sports are for girls. No policy can erase the biological differences between males and females.’
Fox News also reported that at least one Valencia player refused to take the court in the playoff game to avoid competing against Hernandez.
The ongoing dispute comes as the U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the California Interscholastic Federation and the state Department of Education over transgender eligibility policies.
The case cites the refusal to comply with former President Donald Trump’s ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’ executive order.
