Multiple high school volleyball teams in California have forfeited games against Jurupa Valley High School amidst an ongoing controversy involving a transgender athlete on its roster. The situation has sparked heated discussions among parents, school administrators, and national political figures, including President Donald Trump, who has weighed in on the issue. The controversy, which began during the spring track and field season, has reached a new level of intensity as the Jurupa Valley girls’ volleyball team faces a string of forfeits.
Jurupa Valley High School has issued a statement affirming its commitment to state laws that protect transgender students from discrimination. The district cited California Education Code 221.5(f), which requires that students be allowed to participate in athletic teams consistent with their gender identity. The school board emphasized that JUSD is compelled to follow the law, which is consistent with guidance from California Attorney General Rob Bonta and California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. As a result, the school district has stated it is working to find additional matches for the team, despite the fallout from the forfeits.
The controversy has drawn national attention, with other high school teams and parents speaking out about the situation. In particular, the team’s coach, Liana Manu, informed parents of players that the games against Rim of the World and Orange Vista High Schools were forfeited. The decision has led to calls for action from parents and school administrators who are divided on the issue of transgender athletes in high school sports.
President Donald Trump has weighed in on the issue, criticizing California’s transgender policies and warning the state about the DOJ’s lawsuit against the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). The lawsuit, which was filed in July, seeks to challenge the state’s policies that have allowed biological males to compete in girls’ sports. In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned California and Gov. Gavin Newsom about the state’s transgender policies, stating that any school district that does not adhere to the policies may not receive funding.
Nereyda Hernandez, the mother of AB Hernandez, addressed the controversy, emphasizing her child’s right to play in girls’ sports and condemning the targeted harassment. She has defended her daughter’s right to participate in athletics, expressing that she is not the problem, but rather the coordinated efforts to spread fear and put parents against each other are the root of the issue. Meanwhile, parents of female athletes have expressed frustration and anger, with some calling for action against the school district and others supporting the transgender athlete’s right to play in high school sports.
The situation has also led to public demonstrations at school board meetings, where parents and school officials have debated the issue of transgender athletes in girls’ sports. The controversy has highlighted the growing tensions between parents, school administrators, and political figures over the rights of transgender athletes in high school sports, with the issue continuing to gain national attention and potentially affecting the future of youth sports in California.