Introduction to the Controversy
President Donald Trump on Tuesday posted a message to Truth Social ordering California law enforcement, if necessary, to not allow a transgender high school athlete to compete for a state title later this week.
Jurupa Valley High School junior AB Hernandez won first place in the recent qualifying meets for the triple jump and long jump events. Later this week, the transgender student-athlete, Hernandez, is expected to compete for a state championship.
Reactions from Parents and Students
"God made him a boy," said one parent at Jurupa Valley High School. "He should be competing with the boys, not the girls." However, not everyone shares the same opinion. "She deserves to just live her life how she wants to live it," said Angelina Carreon, a classmate. Students and parents who spoke with FOX 11 were split on the issue. "If you identify as a female, you should be able to just play a sport and be comfortable," said Olivia Vlach, another classmate.
Political Involvement
In Newsom’s podcast in March, he discussed AB Hernandez with Charlie Kirk. Newsom said the issue is about "fairness." However, Sonja Shaw, president of the Chino Valley School Board, disagrees. "Newsom has said it’s unfair, but he knows what he’s doing," said Shaw. "He’s playing the game. He has no intent of protecting our daughters." According to Shaw, she has been trying to get President Trump to intervene. "Common sense needs to be common again," said Shaw. "This is a commonsense issue."
Trump’s Intervention
In a lengthy Truth Social post Tuesday, President Trump ordered local authorities in California to "if necessary," not allow the trans-athlete to compete this week. Otherwise, "large scale funding will be held back." "I say pull the funding," said Shaw. "It’s going to send a message. It’s going to put some teeth into what’s going on."
CIF’s Response
On Tuesday, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) announced a new "pilot entry process" where "any biological female student-athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark for one of their Section’s automatic qualifying entries in the CIF State meet, and did not achieve the CIF State at-large mark in the finals at their Section meet, was extended an opportunity to participate in the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships." A spokesperson from California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office tells FOX 11 the CIF pilot process "is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness."
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding AB Hernandez’s participation in the state championship has sparked a heated debate among parents, students, and politicians. While some argue that Hernandez should be allowed to compete as a female, others believe that it is unfair to the biological female athletes. The CIF’s new pilot entry process aims to find a balance between fairness and inclusivity. However, the issue remains a contentious one, with no clear resolution in sight.
FAQs
Q: Who is AB Hernandez?
A: AB Hernandez is a transgender high school athlete who won first place in the recent qualifying meets for the triple jump and long jump events.
Q: What is the controversy surrounding AB Hernandez’s participation in the state championship?
A: The controversy surrounds the fact that Hernandez is a transgender athlete competing in the female category, which some argue is unfair to the biological female athletes.
Q: What has President Trump said about the issue?
A: President Trump has ordered local authorities in California to not allow Hernandez to compete in the state championship, threatening to withhold funding if they do.
Q: What is the CIF’s response to the controversy?
A: The CIF has announced a new "pilot entry process" that aims to find a balance between fairness and inclusivity.
Q: What is the current status of the issue?
A: The issue remains a contentious one, with no clear resolution in sight.
