California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer shared a video on social media featuring prominent transgender athlete AB Hernandez, showing his support as she pursues more state championships in women’s track and field.
The video gained significant traction online, leading to a diverse array of responses—some supportive, others critical—spanning various political viewpoints.
Support came particularly from liberal circles, including advocates for transgender rights like comedian Stacey Kaye, who applauded Steyer’s stance. However, there was notable backlash as well, especially from conservative commentators.
Republican gubernatorial contender Steve Hilton criticized Steyer for his advocacy, claiming in an interview that his views on transgender athletes do not resonate with the majority of California families. Hilton characterized Steyer’s position as extreme and disconnected from everyday concerns.
The Hilton campaign subsequently mocked Steyer’s video post, reaffirming their criticisms of the Democratic candidate.
In the video, Hernandez discussed the challenges she faces, expressing feelings of being “outed” repeatedly. Steyer chimed in with a supportive message of protection, to which Hernandez responded affirmatively.
Steyer emphasized his commitment to ensuring safety for Californians, stating it’s a core responsibility of the governor to safeguard citizens from harmful influences. He expressed pride in the protective role he envisions for the state’s leadership.
After their discussion, Steyer took a photo with Hernandez and her mother, Nereida Hernandez. In recent sports news, Hernandez excelled in long jump and triple jump events during qualifying rounds at the California High School Association championships, moving forward to the final rounds.
A policy from CIF allowed athletes finishing behind Hernandez to take higher podium positions, resulting in Hernandez sharing accolades with other competitors during the state meet. This policy will remain in effect for the upcoming finals.
Looking ahead, Hernandez aims to secure a top podium position one last time before concluding her high school athletic career.
