A high school senior from Jurupa Valley has become the latest flashpoint in a national debate over transgender participation in youth sports.
AB Hernandez, 17, won two state titles and placed second in another event at California’s track and field championships this summer, making her one of the most decorated athletes at the meet. Her victories quickly drew criticism from conservative politicians, including President Donald Trump. “They swear I’m like this crazy danger to society,” Hernandez said recently. “I’m just a normal kid going to school, playing sports.”
Her athletic career has unfolded against a backdrop of rising political tension. While California law protects transgender students’ right to compete in accordance with their gender identity, Hernandez has found herself at the center of a fight that stretches far beyond her school district.
Now a senior, Hernandez has shifted her focus from track to volleyball, competing with Jurupa Valley High School’s Lady Jaguars. But the backlash has followed her. At least three schools have forfeited scheduled matches this season rather than face her on the court. Hernandez says the snubs cut deeper than the protests outside stadiums because they deny her team the chance to play.
“A team sport, I can’t take that,” she said after a recent win. “It’s a team effort. My team needs to be willing to fight with me, and that’s what it takes to win a team title.”
The forfeits have taken a toll, but they’ve also drawn moments of solidarity. Chaffey High School became only the second team this fall to take the court against Hernandez and her teammates, a gesture her mother, Nereyda, said carried enormous meaning.
“I’m grateful, thankful,” she said. “As a mom, it means a lot. Those girls mean a lot because I know it helps AB get through these hard times.”
Nereyda admits she once shared some of the skepticism she now sees directed at her daughter. Raised in a strict Catholic household, she said she struggled to accept Hernandez’s transition in junior high. She even confronted school officials about why they allowed it to happen without her knowledge.
“Shoot, they’re protecting the kids because of parents like me,” she said. “We don’t understand. We just get upset.”
Over time, she realized her resistance was only hurting her daughter. “I did talk to her about how dangerous it is and how difficult it was going to be,” Nereyda said. “But she’s brave. When I saw her courage, I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to stand behind you.’”
More than 20 states enacting laws restricting participation in girls’ and women’s sports. California is not one of them, but the attention focused on Hernandez shows how even in states with protections, the issue remains polarizing.
Hernandez, for her part, says she’s trying to tune out the noise and focus on being a student-athlete. “I think people just see one thing and they’re like, ‘Oh, that’s what you are,’” she said. “They don’t take the time to get to know me. So, it’s just a little frustrating.”
Still, she insists she’s not backing down. “I just want to play. That’s it. I want to play with my teammates and finish my senior year.”
