Controversy surrounds California transgender athlete’s achievements
The mother of a transgender athlete at the centre of a bitter row over girls’ sport in California has criticised a controversial podium policy after claiming her child was made to feel “invisible,” reports BritPanorama.
Nereyda Hernandez made her remarks at the San Francisco Pride Summit, following a heated debate about her child, AB Hernandez. The athlete won multiple events at the California state track and field championships last month while representing Jurupa Valley High School.
The situation escalated after the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) introduced a rule allowing biological female athletes finishing behind a transgender competitor to also receive first-place recognition. This policy, unveiled in 2025, aimed to mitigate rising tensions regarding transgender participation in girls’ sports but continues to spark controversy.
Hernandez expressed her distress over the new arrangement, stating it diminished her child’s accomplishments. “Of course I’m going to be upset,” she told attendees. “AB put in all the work, all the hours after school, and she got put aside.”
Accolades aside, AB Hernandez’s involvement in the championships has made her a focal point in a heated national discussion. As demonstrations unfolded outside the event, protesters donned “Save Girls’ Sports” T-shirts, holding signs with messages such as “No boys. No bias. Just fairness.”
This issue has seen political ramifications, with former President Donald Trump previously threatening to withhold federal funding from California over the inclusion of transgender athletes assigned male at birth in female categories. In a social media post, Trump claimed California was “ILLEGALLY allow[ing] ‘MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS.'”
Amid these tensions, AB Hernandez has maintained a resilient stance, dismissing criticism about her participation. “I don’t care,” she remarked last month, emphasizing the solitary nature of track and the focus it demands.
The debate surrounding AB and the implications of her achievements illustrate the complexities of gender, sport, and societal values. As athletics increasingly mirrors wider social discussions, the conversation around fairness and inclusion remains decidedly unresolved.
