Transgender athlete’s mother res
California Volleyball Forfeit Sparks Transgender Rights Debate
Game Canceled Over Trans Player
A high school volleyball match in California turned controversial when Riverside
Poly High forfeited its game against Jurupa Valley High, whose girls’ team includes
transgender athlete AB Hernandez. The school called the move “disappointing” but said it was made to ensure a “safe, positive environment.”
Parents and Officials React
Parents said the forfeit was due to Hernandez’s inclusion.
School board member Amanda Vickers defended the decision, saying, “The girls of Riverside Poly… they’re not going to end up like Payton McNabb,” referencing a past injury case.
Family Pushes Back
AB’s mother, Nereyda Hernandez, condemned the move: “You have an oath to protect all children… My daughter is not the problem.” She said the issue is about “erasing transgender children,” not fairness in sports.
National Spotlight
The controversy drew attention from Donald Trump, who threatened to cut funding to schools allowing transgender athletes. Despite the backlash, AB’s family vows to keep fighting for her right to play.
