The presence of a trans volleyball player in California has sparked chaos as teams continue to forfeit games against Jurupa Valley High School.
AB Hernandez helped the Lady Jags to an unbeaten season and a championship last year, and also recently claimed gold in the high jump and triple jump at the state championships, much to the dismay of furious rival parents.
Now, the current season of women’s volleyball is spiraling out of control after two more teams forfeited their game against Jurupa Valley due to the presence of Hernandez on the team.
Fox Sports are reporting that both Rim of the World High School and Orange Vista High School have pulled out of upcoming games on August 25 and 29 respectively.
The news was confirmed by Maribel Munoz, the mother of a female player on Jurupa Valley’s roster, who provided copies of the message sent by coach Liana Manu to the parents of players informing them of the news.
In a statement to Fox, a spokesperson for the school said: ‘We understand and acknowledge the disappointment of our Jurupa Valley High School athletes who are ready and prepared to play.
Transgender athlete AB Hernandez dominated a girls’ track meet in California earlier this year
Hernandez last year helped Jurupa Valley to a championship and undefeated league season
‘Decisions to cancel matches were made by teams in other districts. As a public school district in California, JUSD is compelled to follow the law, which protects students from discrimination based on gender identity and requires that students be permitted to participate on athletic teams that are consistent with their gender identity (California Education Code 221.5 (f)).
‘This is consistent with the guidance provided by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
‘We are proud of our JVHS Jaguars and their willingness to play any team and represent their school and our district with pride. We are currently working to find additional matches to give them that opportunity.’
The news of the latest two forfeits come after the Riverside Poly Bears also pulled out of a game against Jurupa Valley earlier this month, leaving the team’s plans in tatters.
In response, the mother of Hernandez – Nereyda – attended the Riverside Unified School District board meeting to defend her child, accusing one official of ‘moral failure’ and ‘welcoming harassment.’
Donald Trump signed an executive order entitled: ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’
‘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.’
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.’
