AB Hernandez, a Jurupa Valley senior from California who competed at the CIF Southern Section Division 3 preliminaries, is at the center of a heated debate over fairness in girls’ sports. Protesters gathered outside Yorba Linda High School as Save Girls’ Sports activists pressed their case, and Hernandez’s mother, Nereyda, has pushed back, saying the backlash is politically driven. Gov. Gavin Newsom has acknowledged fairness concerns while critics and supporters trade arguments over competitive edges and the future of female athletics. The story moves on to state-level CIF rules and an upcoming CIF final in Clovis.
The controversy flared after Hernandez, listed as born male, won the triple jump and long jump by wide margins at the preliminaries. Those results sparked immediate questions about whether biological differences are creating unfair outcomes in girls’ competitions. Parents and activists who support protected girls’ categories say this is not personal. It is about preserving opportunities for young women who train and compete under different conditions.
Save Girls’ Sports activists made their presence known outside Yorba Linda High School, where the meet took place, pushing a message that resonates with many grassroots conservatives. They insist the issue is straightforward: fairness matters and girls should not be pushed aside. Opponents counter with a call for inclusion and point to the harm of excluding transgender students from team life. The clash is public, emotional, and increasingly political.
Nereyda Hernandez has been vocal in defending her child and framing much of the criticism as election-season politics. She warned her family would be targeted, saying, “Once they started posting [online] about their protest, I thought, ‘Wow, it’s going to be another crazy year,’” she said. “But no, on the outside, they had maybe, maybe 10 people. … They’re there to target one child, but they affect all of them.” That line captures how families caught in this debate feel under pressure from organized activists and media attention.
Even as the personal pain is clear, Republican-leaning critics see a broader pattern where competitive equity is being compromised. They point not only to local high school results but to high-profile collegiate cases like Lia Thomas at the University of Pennsylvania and controversies at San Jose State involving Blair Fleming. Those examples are cited by parents who say retained physiological advantages can translate into real differences in performance.
California’s CIF rules currently allow transgender participation under gender identity policies, which means Hernandez will continue to compete and is scheduled for the CIF finals in Clovis. Supporters of that approach stress the importance of inclusion and the mental health of transgender youth. Conservative critics reply that compassion does not require sacrificing fairness and that athletic categories exist to protect competitive opportunities for females under Title IX.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has acknowledged the fairness question in public remarks, telling Charlie Kirk, “I think it’s an issue of fairness. I completely agree with you on that.” He elaborated, “It is an issue of fairness. It’s deeply unfair,” he said. “I’m not wrestling with the fairness issue. I totally agree with you.” Those words matter because they signal recognition at the top of state government, even as California maintains policies many believe tilt heavily toward inclusion over balance.
Parents at meets and activists on both sides are growing more organized. Save Girls’ Sports supporters argue they are defending a protected class of athletes and preserving scholarship pathways and podium opportunities that matter for college and beyond. Critics of the movement say the protests can feel targeted and cruel to the student at the center of it. Still, the movement’s core message has resonated with families who see measurable performance gaps and want rules that reflect biological realities.
Nereyda Hernandez has said the harassment her child experienced often came from adults. In a statement released through TransFamily Support Services she said AB has been “attacked for simply being who they are,” while noting competitors themselves have generally shown respect. That defensive posture is understandable for any parent, yet many argue empathy for one student cannot erase an entire class’s lost chances.
The debate is now a political fault line that will shape state policy and school athletics for years to come. Some families who questioned transgender participation were labeled hostile in the past. Now more parents are voicing concerns without wanting to be painted as hateful. They argue the issue is about preserving fair competition for girls, not attacking individuals.
Those who back Save Girls’ Sports say the solution is clear: protected competition for female athletes must come first. Their aim is straightforward and framed in the language of opportunity and fairness. With Hernandez headed to Clovis and the state conversation only heating up, expect this fight to move from local meets into larger policy debates across California.
Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
