The mom of a transgender volleyball player is calling out school officials after another school refused to play against her daughter’s team. She said they had entertained and welcomed harassment against her child and failed to protect students the way they should.
The game between Jurupa Valley High School and Riverside Poly High School was supposed to take place on August 15 but Riverside Poly forfeited.
They released a statement saying: “We understand this is disappointing for our athletes, families and supporters, and we appreciate the community’s understanding. We remain committed to providing a safe, positive environment for all student-athletes throughout the season.”
Parents later told local outlets the game was thrown because of the inclusion of AB Hernandez, who is transgender, but the players themselves did not make that decision. Riverside Unified School District board member Amanda Vickers said: “Tonight, the girls of Riverside Poly High School, they’re not going to end up like Payton McNabb,” pointing to an earlier case where a girl was seriously injured by a spike from a trans athlete in 2022.
At a board meeting a few days later, Hernandez’s mother Nereyda said her daughter was not the problem. She said: “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. My daughter is not the problem.
“The problem is coordinated external efforts often led by individuals that travel from district to district to spread fear and put 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.”
This is not the first time Hernandez has been targeted. Earlier this year at a track meet, adults, including board members, reportedly heckled her while she competed, even causing a false start in one of the races. Hernandez said in an interview: “There’s nothing I can do about people’s actions, just focus on my own. I’m still a child, you’re an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person.”
Parents and athletes have also shown up at meets wearing “Save Girls Sports” shirts to protest Hernandez’s participation. School officials compared some of these protests to symbols of hate in a lawsuit that was filed. The issue has sparked repeated clashes in the community over sports and gender identity.
Former president Donald Trump also brought up the California situation on his social media page. He wrote: “Any California school district that doesn’t adhere to our Transgender policies, will not be funded. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
His administration has been pushing lawsuits against California school policies that allow transgender athletes to compete in girls sports, claiming they violate federal laws. He also signed a directive earlier this year threatening to pull funding from schools that allow transgender girls to play in female leagues, saying it was about safety, fairness, and dignity.
