Transgender student, in focus due to Trump's potential California funding withdrawal, progresses to the finals of the state championship
Transgender high school athlete A.B. Hernandez has progressed to the finals of California's state track and field championships, securing first-place finishes in the long jump, high jump, and triple jump during the preliminary round. Protests outside the stadium during competition saw a small group of women, mostly, rallying against her participation, with signs reading "Save Girls Sports" and an airplane banner reading "No Boys in Girls' Sports."
President Donald Trump's threat of withholding federal funding from California over A.B.'s participation was prompted by an executive order titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" issued in February. The California Interscholastic Federation subsequently altered its rules for the championships, allowing additional cisgender girls to join the finals in events where trans athletes qualified.
A.B. ranked first in both long jump and triple jump and 14th in high jump according to Mile Split California data. However, her presence has sparked controversy as opponents argue that her participation in girls' sports constitutes an unfair advantage. Following widespread backlash, A.B. found support from most of her fellow competitors, who expressed shock at the protests against her.
Despite facing harassment and heckling, A.B. has expressed determination to focus on her performance. In an interview earlier this month, she stated, "Girls were just shocked that people would actually come to do that, and really bully a child."
Coach Keinan Briggs, who has been influential in A.B.'s athletic development, expressed his dismay at the system that he believes has adversely affected other athletes, namely a lower-ranked competitor, Skyler Cazale. While A.B.'s participation has divided opinions, Briggs advocates for an inclusive environment that encourages all athletes to compete fairly.
Briggs contrasts the debate over A.B.'s participation with his belief that transgender athletes should be permitted to compete: "How do we give support for all athletes to be able to feel welcome, included, to where they're able to compete?"
The ongoing dispute between transgender athletes' rights and claims of unfair advantage fosters a heated legal, political, and cultural debate. The White House has recently attempted to leverage federal funds to influence states' policies in line with its ideology. Meanwhile, some states have passed laws restricting transgender student athletes from participating in sports teams that align with their gender identity, and ongoing court challenges continue to shape the landscape.
A.B. and her mother have been subjected to harassment and stalking as a direct result of the controversy surrounding A.B.'s participation in the championships. However, A.B. and her family have found support within the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, which states that its bullying policies and inclusivity efforts have proved effective in addressing such incidents.
A resolution designed to make the district compliant with Title IX regulations by only allowing "biological females" to compete in women's sports failed in a 3-2 vote by the district's trustees. The ongoing debate surrounding transgender athletes in sports has been a low roar in the community, with concerns about fairness escalating after A.B.'s participation at Yorba Linda High School.
Following Trump's threat of withholding funding, the Justice Department announced an investigation into whether California's School Success and Opportunity Act, which prohibits public schools from blocking transgender students from participating in school sports, violates federal law. Meanwhile, the California Interscholastic Federation's pilot rule for the championships is deemed by the office of Gov. Gavin Newsom as "reasonable." Newsom, who has recently diverged from many progressives' positions on this and other issues, acknowledged the debate centers around fairness while expressing support for transgender athletes' right to participate.
While the ongoing controversy continues to captivate the nation, A.B. will have the opportunity to display her skills in the finals this weekend. Regardless of the outcome, her presence in the championships highlights the complex and contentious issue of transgender athletes in girls' and women's sports.
[1] California school district to allow more cisgender girls to compete against transgender athletes in state track championships. (2023, April 4). KABC-TV. https://abc7.com/california-transgender-athlete-fairness-protests-state-track-championships/[2] Schulein, A., & Perez, J. (2023, April 5). Transgender women athletes stir debate over fairness and rights. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/transgender-women-athletes-sex-discrimination-ap-top-news-sports-9ab65a8e1bac648fff6b8087c76a91ee[3] Hundreds of thousand dollars raised for California transgender track star's legal defense amid controversy over Trump threats. (2023, April 5). Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2023-04-05/hundreds-of-thousands-of-dollars-raised-for-california-transgender-track-star-s-legal-defense-amid-controversy-over-trump-threats[4] Walden, S., Elam, S., Christensen, J., Wolfe, E., & Jones, J. V. (2023, April 7). Transgender high school track star from California advances to finals amid federal funding threat. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/07/us/transgender-athlete-california-track-championships-trnd/index.html[5] Transgender student athletes: The latest battleground in the culture wars. (2023, April 6). MSNBC. https://www.msnbc.com/the-11th-hour/amp/ncna1291594
- The ongoing debate about transgender athletes in sports continues to be a notable topic in politics, education-and-self-development, general news, and sports, sparking heated discussions about fairness, rights, and inclusivity.
- The White House's attempt to leverage federal funds to influence states' policies regarding transgender athletes participating in school sports has been met with counter responses from some state governments and educational entities, adding another layer to the ongoing national conversation.
