Debate Erupts Over Transgender Athletes at California School Board Meeting
An intense discussion unfolded at a recent school board meeting in California concerning a women’s volleyball team and the participation of transgender athletes. Specifically, the Riverside Poly High School Girls Volleyball team forfeited their match against Jurupa Valley High School, which has players who identify as transgender.
Parents had previously voiced their concerns to Fox News Digital regarding the presence of AB Hernandez, a trans athlete from Jurupa Valley. At the Riverside Unified School District board meeting, held on Thursday, a mix of supporters emerged—some for the team that forfeited the game and others advocating for the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Nereida Hernandez, AB’s mother, defended her child’s right to compete and criticized board member Amanda Vickers for a prior interview with Fox News which seemed to invite negative attention toward Hernandez. She expressed strong feelings, stating, “You are a member of the board. You have a vow to support all children, not just those who align with your beliefs.” She also emphasized the need to recognize that the issue is not her daughter but rather external forces creating division.
Another parent, Maria Koreo, voiced her support for the Riverside players and questioned the appropriateness of allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports. “If my child was doing something harmful, I would tell them the truth,” she remarked, drawing an analogy about drugs to underline her point.
Riverside has become a focal point for controversies surrounding transgender athletes, especially after a challenging season for Hernandez that garnered national attention. Two female students even filed lawsuits, claiming that Hernandez’s inclusion led to unfair team placements in varsity competition.
Some parents wore “Save Girls Sports” shirts to express their discontent. One mother identified as Sandy R criticized the board, suggesting they take steps to ban trans athletes from competing in women’s sports, as other districts have done under similar laws.
Notably, the Kern County School Board had adopted such a ban earlier this month, and Sandy mentioned this while advocating for Riverside to follow suit.
Recently, former President Donald Trump made statements regarding California’s transgender policies, warning that school districts not conforming would face funding cuts. His remarks raise concerns about the implications for schools that do not align with state policies.
Last fall, the Riverside Unified School District board experienced heated moments related to another incident at Martin Luther King High School. Meanwhile, AB Hernandez found herself in the spotlight during the California Girls Athletics Championships, facing protests from peers and their families.
In July, the Justice Department filed lawsuits against California’s Department of Education and the CIF over policies allowing biological males to compete against women, despite previous attempts to ban such participation under an executive order signed by Trump.
A recent bipartisan investigation revealed that many Californians oppose the inclusion of transgender female athletes in women’s sports. According to a poll, over 70% of parents within state schools support policies requiring trans athletes to compete in accordance with their sex assigned at birth.
