On Saturday, May 31, the California Interscholastic Federation held its state high school track and field meet at the Veteran’s Memorial Stadium at Buchanan High School in Clovis, CA. Among the athletes was 16-year-old AB Hernandez from Jurupa Valley High School, a transgender athlete who has been the target of harassment and online threats.
According to The LA Times, on May 27, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social and threatened to cut federal funding to California over the participation of transgender athletes in girls sports: “I will speak to [Gavin Newsom] today to find out which way he wants to go? In the meantime, I am ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow the transitioned person to compete in the State Finals. This is a totally ridiculous situation!”
Under 100 degree weather, a small group of anti-trans protesters gathered outside Buchanan High and held signs that read “No Dudes in Girls Spaces.” This was also the phrase protestors chanted on a megaphone. The chant could be heard all the way from inside the stadium. While Hernandez was attempting her first long jump, a protester came into the stadium shouting the chant.
Shortly after, a stern announcement was made. The speaker announced, “We will not allow the disrespect of our athletes to continue. We will pause if this continues. The only people you are hurting are our athletes. Please continue to show respect to all of our athletes.”
Despite the hecklers, Hernandez finished in second place for the long jump and placed first in the high jump and triple jump.
Additionally, there’s a new rule established by the CIF that allows cisgender girls who would have qualified for the state championships, had a transgender girl not competed, and also be awarded the medal they would have earned on a specific placement on the podium. Hernandez shared the podium with the girls who were also awarded those places.
In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Brooke White, who placed second with Hernandez in the long jump, supported Hernandez. “Sharing the podium was nothing but an honor. Although the publicity she’s been receiving has been pretty negative, I believe she deserves publicity because she’s a superstar, she’s a rock star, she’s representing who she is.”
“As a part of the queer community, I want AB Hernandez to know that we all have her back,” White added.
AB Hernandez has been made a political target since last year when Chino Valley Unified School District board president Sonja Shaw and former gym teacher Jessica Tapia publicly outed Hernandez on social media. Anti-trans and right wing groups have harassed Hernandez online and have even shown up to her track meets.
While the goal is to bar Hernandez from competing and ban transgender athletes, AB Hernandez’s competitors and coaches have only ever welcomed her.
Her mother Nereyda Hernandez agreed. “There’s just been so much support from coaches and other parents,” she said. “Parents, you know, they just wanted to let me know like, ‘Look, we’re not for that,’ and it felt good.”
The CIF has also done its part in maintaining dignity and respect for all their athletes.
“The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law and Education Code,” the federation said in a statement.
AB Hernandez’s success has opened doors for transgender athletes and has shown how much support and acknowledgment can truly combat anti-trans rhetoric that harms transgender people and athletes.
