Transgender Athlete Wins Multiple Titles at California High School Track Finals Amid Protests and Political Backlash
A transgender high school athlete who became the center of heated national debate and political controversy reached the podium in all three of her events at the California State Track and Field Championships on Saturday. The competition took place under the shadow of protests, public outcry, and even threats from former President Donald Trump to cut federal funding to California over the issue.
Her participation in the state finals had drawn significant attention over the past week, with critics claiming her inclusion gave her an unfair advantage and excluded other athletes from competing.
Hernandez’s performance in Friday’s preliminary rounds had already made waves. She placed first in all three of her events — the long jump, high jump, and triple jump — as demonstrators gathered outside the stadium.
The controversy intensified when former President Donald Trump weighed in, criticizing the athlete’s participation and threatening to cut federal funding to California schools that allow transgender students to compete in girls’ sports. Trump’s comments were met with both outrage and support, reflecting the broader national debate over transgender inclusion in athletics.
Despite the backlash, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), which governs high school sports in the state, stood by its inclusion policy. CIF officials reaffirmed that student-athletes are permitted to compete in alignment with their gender identity, a rule that has been in place for several years.
In response to criticism that Hernandez’s participation displaced cisgender girls — athletes whose gender identity aligns with their sex assigned at birth — from qualifying for the finals, CIF made a special accommodation. The governing body allowed additional cisgender female athletes to advance to the championship round. CIF also clarified that if a transgender athlete like Hernandez medaled, it would not prevent a cisgender athlete from earning a medal in the same event.
The dual-podium policy is part of a broader effort by CIF to ensure that all athletes feel welcomed and included, while also addressing concerns raised by some parents, athletes, and advocacy groups about competitive fairness.
“We are committed to creating a sports environment where every student-athlete has the opportunity to participate and succeed,” a CIF spokesperson said in a statement. “Our policies are designed to be inclusive and equitable, and we continue to monitor and evaluate them as conversations around these topics evolve.”
Hernandez herself has remained largely out of the public eye, focusing on her performance rather than the political and social storm surrounding her. Her coaches and school have declined to make detailed public statements, citing the student’s privacy and well-being.
Still, the tension surrounding her participation reflects a growing national divide over transgender rights in youth sports. Multiple states have passed or proposed legislation that would ban transgender girls from competing in girls’ athletic programs. California, in contrast, has remained a stronghold for inclusive sports policies, which has made it a target for conservative critics and political figures.
Civil rights groups and LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations have praised CIF for maintaining its inclusive stance, arguing that transgender athletes deserve the same opportunities to compete and thrive as any other student.
“Transgender youth are not a threat to sports — they are part of the rich diversity that makes high school athletics so meaningful,” said a representative from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California. “Attempts to vilify these young athletes are dangerous and discriminatory.”
They argue that biological differences give transgender athletes an advantage in certain events and can unfairly impact cisgender athletes’ opportunities for advancement and recognition.
Her performance also left many wondering how the debate over transgender athletes in school sports will continue to evolve — not just in California, but across the country. As courts, school boards, and lawmakers grapple with these complex issues, athletes like A.B. Hernandez are already leaving their mark on the field, and on history.
Protests Emerge Over Trans Athlete’s Participation, but Many Parents Urge Focus on Competition
As protests continued over a transgender high school athlete’s participation in California’s state track and field finals, opinions on the issue remained divided. Outside the stadium, a protester told CNN, “I don’t think that having a male in female competition is fair competition.” The protester misgendered the athlete, A.B. Hernandez, while suggesting that she should compete in what they called her “biological field.”
Despite the vocal demonstrations, most parents attending the event with their children expressed a desire to keep politics out of high school sports and focus instead on the athletes’ achievements.
Dan Usher, whose teenage son traveled from Woodside High School in the San Francisco Bay Area to compete in the shot put, emphasized that the controversy was detracting from what should be a celebration of student athleticism. Instead, there are some distractions.”
While California has found itself at the center of a nationwide debate over transgender athletes in school sports, it is not the only state facing these questions. In Washington State, where regulations also allow student-athletes to compete according to their gender identity, another transgender athlete made headlines over the weekend.
Garcia previously spoke about her reasons for competing on the girls’ team during an interview with CNN affiliate KXLY.
Temporary Rule Adjustment Aims to Address Fairness Concerns
Back in California, the controversy surrounding A.B. Hernandez’s participation prompted the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) to announce a temporary policy change just days before the championship meet. The new rule, applicable only to this past weekend’s finals, allowed additional cisgender girls—referred to by CIF as “biological female” athletes—to advance to the state finals if they had otherwise met qualifying standards but were edged out due to the inclusion of transgender athletes.
CIF’s decision was an attempt to balance inclusivity with concerns about fairness, though it also sparked additional controversy from both sides of the debate. Supporters of transgender inclusion viewed it as a compromise that still allowed critics to frame the participation of transgender athletes as problematic, while opponents argued the adjustment didn’t go far enough.
Trump Threatens Federal Funding Cuts Over Trans Inclusion
Former President Donald Trump added fuel to the fire with a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, reiterating his opposition to transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports. He referenced an executive order he issued in February titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports”, warning that “large scale” federal funding could be withheld from states like California if the policy is not enforced.
“Federal funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to,” Trump wrote, signaling that he may use financial pressure to challenge inclusive athletic policies in states governed by Democrats.
Trump’s comments were met with sharp criticism from civil rights organizations, LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, and several Democratic officials, who accused him of politicizing youth sports and endangering vulnerable students for political gain.
Athletes Press On Amid National Debate
Despite the protests and political threats, student-athletes like Hernandez and Garcia continued to compete at the highest level. Hernandez, who earned two first-place finishes and a second-place finish over the weekend, declined to speak to the media, but her performance spoke volumes.
For many attending the meet, her success on the field was a reminder of what high school sports are supposed to be about: hard work, dedication, and personal achievement. While the debate over transgender inclusion in athletics is likely to continue — both in courtrooms and legislative halls — many parents and athletes say their primary focus is, and should remain, on the sports themselves.
One day after former President Donald Trump issued his warning about cutting federal funding, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it had launched an investigation into whether California’s School Success and Opportunity Act may conflict with Title IX — the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs receiving federal funding.
The California law, in part, ensures that public schools cannot prevent transgender students from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity.
The Justice Department notified key state and local entities of the investigation through official letters sent to the California Attorney General, the state superintendent of public instruction, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), and the Jurupa Unified School District, where A.B. Hernandez is enrolled.
California School District Defends Policy Compliance as Debate Intensifies Over Trans Athlete Participation
The Jurupa Unified School District, where transgender student-athlete A.B. Hernandez is enrolled, issued a statement affirming that it is obligated to comply with both California state law and the California Interscholastic Federation’s (CIF) athletic policies.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office weighed in as well, calling CIF’s temporary pilot rule “reasonable.” While Newsom, a Democrat, has traditionally aligned with progressive causes, he has more recently taken a nuanced stance on transgender participation in sports. During a March podcast appearance with conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Newsom described the issue as “deeply unfair,” signaling a departure from the typical Democratic position.
As the national conversation over trans inclusion in sports continues, the Biden administration has sought to use federal funding as leverage to bring state policies in line with its interpretation of civil rights protections. The issue has become a major political flashpoint, particularly among conservative groups who argue that transgender athletes have an unfair advantage in girls’ and women’s sports.
Debate Over Trans Athletes Centers on Questions of Fairness and Inclusion
At the heart of the national debate over transgender athletes is the question of whether transgender women possess inherent physical advantages in sports. While relatively few transgender athletes have reached elite levels of competition—and even fewer have claimed top honors—their presence has fueled a growing movement to restrict trans individuals from participating on teams that align with their gender identity.
Despite the heightened political and public scrutiny, scientific research on the athletic performance of transgender individuals remains limited. To date, no large-scale studies have been conducted to assess how hormone therapies may affect athletic performance across various sports, such as sprinting, jumping, or contact sports like wrestling.
Supporters of trans inclusion argue that transgender athletes deserve the same opportunities as their peers—to compete, to belong, and to benefit from the well-documented physical, mental, and social rewards that organized sports offer.
A.B. Hernandez Faces Backlash—and Support—After Stellar Performances
For A.B. Hernandez, the Southern California high school junior at the center of the current firestorm, this weekend’s state track and field championship was not her first encounter with public backlash. Earlier this month, she was met with hecklers and protesters during another meet. According to Keinan Briggs, a coach who works with two athletes who competed against A.B., she was escorted at that event by campus security and Orange County Sheriff’s deputies to ensure her safety.
Despite the tension surrounding her participation, Briggs said he supports A.B.’s right to compete, especially in the absence of a separate competition category for transgender athletes. “She deserves to be out there like any other student,” he added.
A.B. emphasized the intense level of preparation and discipline she’s committed to the sport. “I’ve trained so hard. Since November, three hours every afternoon after school. I gave up my entire summer—no break at all,” she shared. I tell them, don’t just hope—make it happen.”
Despite being the target of political attacks and public protests, A.B. reminded critics that she’s still a teenager. “I’m still a child,” she said. “You’re an adult, and for you to act like a child shows who you really are.”
When contacted by CNN, A.B.’s family declined to comment on the matter.
A.B. Hernandez’s Mother Defends Daughter’s Right to Compete, Citing Courage Over Advantage
Nereyda Hernandez, the mother of transgender high school athlete A.B. Hernandez, spoke out publicly this month, defending her daughter’s right to participate in girls’ athletics.
Both A.B. and her mother addressed the issue directly during an April 8 meeting of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Board of Education. Speaking before the board, Nereyda emphasized that her daughter is competing in full compliance with California law, which allows transgender students to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity.
“We’re supposed to treat all children equally and protect them,” Nereyda said. She noted that A.B.’s team does not feel “unsafe,” countering claims from critics who suggest that her presence disrupts the team dynamic.
A.B. herself also spoke at the board meeting, pushing back against the narrative promoted by advocacy groups like Save Girls Sports. “They all love me and support me, and they’ve told me over and over again that they want me on this team.”
Her remarks underscored the support she has received from her teammates, even as controversy continues to swirl around her eligibility to compete.