The Riverside Volleyball Match That Never Was: A Story of Trans Inclusion and Backlash
This article delves into a recent controversy surrounding a transgender high school athlete, AB Hernandez, and the resulting fallout within the California school system. It highlights the complex interplay between athletic participation, transgender rights, and the passionate responses from various stakeholders. Please be advised that this article contains sensitive content related to discrimination against the transgender community.
A Game Forfeited, A Community Divided
AB Hernandez, a student athlete at Jurupa Valley High School, was scheduled to play a volleyball match against Riverside Poly High School on August 15th. However, Riverside Poly unexpectedly forfeited the game. While their official statement cited a commitment to a “safe, positive environment,” multiple parents subsequently revealed to Fox Digital that the decision stemmed from Hernandez’s participation as a transgender athlete. The players themselves, it was emphasized, were not responsible for the forfeiture. This revelation ignited a firestorm of debate and protest.
The Riverside Unified School District’s Response and its Critics
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Amanda Vickers, a member of the Riverside Unified School District board, fueled the controversy with comments referencing Payton McNabb, a former volleyball player who suffered serious brain damage after being hit by a volleyball spike from a transgender athlete in 2022. Vickers’ statement, viewed by many as inflammatory, sparked outrage and accusations of fear-mongering.
A Mother’s Plea for Understanding
At a subsequent school board meeting on August 21st, Hernandez’s mother, Nereyda, delivered a powerful and emotional address. She directly challenged Vickers’ comments, accusing the board member of “entertaining and welcoming harassment” against her daughter. Nereyda vehemently asserted that her daughter is “not the problem.” Instead, she pointed to organized, external efforts aimed at spreading fear and division, often using religious rhetoric as a mask for discrimination. She passionately argued that this conflict is not about fairness in sports but rather a deliberate attempt to erase transgender children.
A Pattern of Harassment and Protest
This incident wasn’t isolated. Hernandez has previously faced significant harassment. During a track meet in May, she was subjected to relentless heckling by approximately 30 adults, including three local school board members, at Yorba Linda High School. The disruption was so severe that it allegedly caused a false start in one of her races. Hernandez’s mature response, focusing on her own performance amidst the chaos, underscores the immense pressure she’s endured. Furthermore, postseason events featuring Hernandez have been consistently targeted by protests from female athletes and their families, often displaying “Save Girls Sports” shirts, which – according to a lawsuit – have been compared to swastikas by school officials.
Political Fallout and National Attention
The controversy has reached national prominence, attracting the attention of US President Donald Trump. In a post on Truth Social, he threatened to withhold funding from any California school district that doesn’t comply with his administration’s policies on transgender athletes. This action is a continuation of his broader campaign against transgender rights, including a lawsuit filed in July against the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation over their policy allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports. This lawsuit, coupled with a February directive to remove federal funding from schools allowing transgender participation, represents a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict.
