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A recent school board meeting in California erupted into a heated debate following the Riverside Poly High School girls’ volleyball team’s decision to forfeit a match against Jurupa Valley High School, which included a transgender player, AB Hernandez. The Riverside team made this controversial choice last Friday, with several parents indicating the forfeit stemmed from concerns about Hernandez’s participation.
During a Riverside Unified School District board meeting on Thursday, many local parents voiced their support for the Riverside Poly players while criticizing the district’s current gender policies. Conversely, others advocated for the inclusion of transgender athletes in girls’ sports.
Nereyda Hernandez, AB’s mother, defended her child’s right to compete and criticized board member Amanda Vickers for her previous remarks to Fox News Digital regarding the forfeit. "Amanda Vickers, you spoke to Fox and invited harassment towards my child. As a board member, your duty is to protect all students, not just those who align with your views," Hernandez asserted. She emphasized that the real issue lies not with her daughter but with external forces that spread fear and division among parents under the guise of religious beliefs, arguing that it undermines the rights of transgender youth.
Another parent, Maria Correo, expressed her support for the Riverside Poly players, arguing against parents who allow their children to compete in sports that do not align with their biological sex. "Great job, Poly girls! Keep fighting. Those parents supporting their confused children are the real issue," Correo stated. She drew a parallel to drug use, asserting that while she would love her child, she would also guide them towards the truth.
The city of Riverside has become a focal point for discussions about transgender athletes in girls’ sports, especially following a highly publicized season for Hernandez and a lawsuit filed by two students at Martin Luther King High School. The lawsuit claimed that a transgender athlete took one of the girls’ spots on the varsity cross-country team, leading students to wear "Save Girls Sports" T-shirts, which administrators controversially likened to swastikas.
At the meeting, a mother identified only as Sandy R. urged board members to pass a resolution banning transgender athletes from girls’ sports, even if it contradicts state law. This sentiment echoed a recent decision by the Kern County Board of Education to implement similar restrictions. Sandy R. expressed pride in potentially challenging California’s existing laws.
In a related context, former President Donald Trump criticized California’s transgender policies in a post on Truth Social, threatening funding cuts for districts that do not comply with his administration’s guidelines.
Riverside Unified School District’s board meetings have gained significant attention due to the ongoing debate, especially following the media frenzy surrounding AB Hernandez during the California girls’ track and field championship. The postseason events were met with protests from female athletes and their families, who frequently donned "Save Girls Sports" shirts.
In July, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Education and the CIF, challenging their policies that allow biological males to compete in girls’ sports, despite an executive order from Trump aimed at prohibiting such participation.
A bipartisan survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California revealed that a majority of residents oppose allowing biological male transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports. Notably, over 70% of parents in the state shared this view, indicating strong support for requiring transgender athletes to compete based on their sex assigned at birth.
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About the Author:
Jackson Thompson is a seasoned sports writer for Fox News Digital, with previous experience at ESPN and Business Insider. He has reported on major sporting events, including the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed renowned athletes such as Usain Bolt and Jerry Rice.
