Controversy Surrounds Jurupa Valley High School Volleyball Teams
A total of ten girls’ volleyball teams at Jurupa Valley High School in California were disqualified due to the inclusion of a transgender player.
Los Osos High School forfeited a tournament game against Jurupa Valley on Saturday, while Patriot High School forfeited a Monday varsity game, marking the second forfeiture for Jurupa Valley High School this season.
The president of the California Board of Education confirmed that only the varsity team from Patriot lost to Jurupa Valley, although the junior varsity and freshman teams participated.
Neither school provided a specific reason for the disqualification. Two seniors from Jurupa Valley, Alyssa McPherson and Hadeel Hazameh, decided to leave the team this season in protest of playing alongside a transgender teammate. However, the school continues to support them.
According to reports, McPherson and Hazameh have filed a lawsuit against the Jurupa Unified School District, with McPherson citing her experiences from the past three seasons, which included sharing a locker room. Notably, McPherson’s sister, a former player, is also a plaintiff in the case.
Meanwhile, Jurupa Valley High School may be headed for postseason play, but the suspensions could affect that. This situation isn’t new; last season, Stoneridge Christian, another Northern California team, forfeited a playoff game against San Francisco Waldorf because they had a transgender player.
Previously, Jurupa Valley addressed the situation, emphasizing the necessity for schools to adhere to state laws.
“We understand the disappointment felt by the players who have been preparing for these games. The decisions to cancel were made by other district teams,” the school stated. “Being a public school district in California, we must comply with laws that prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and allow students to participate in teams aligning with their gender identity.”
“This aligns with the guidance from the California Attorney General and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.” The school expressed pride in its JVHS Jaguars and their commitment to representing their school faithfully, while also seeking additional game opportunities for the players.
