Mother of transgender athlete AB Hernandez determined to push through protests

"A flyer featuring a pink background was the top Instagram post on California state superintendent candidate Sonja Shaw's page on Saturday morning. It read, in blue, "a male athlete" held the top spot for an upcoming high school girls' track and field meet, listing the event start times for protesters."

"It has been about a year since President Trump targeted AB, who is transgender. As a result, the athlete and her mother knew what to expect when the track postseason began in May. There would be cameras, protesters and vitriol directed at a high school athlete."

"CIF policies allow transgender athletes to compete alongside other cisgender girls. If the transgender athlete places high enough to advance in qualifying or to medal at a CIF event, the athlete advances or receives the medal. But so does the next athlete in line. As a result, AB shared the first-place podium alongside another athlete twice at the state track and field meet last year."

"Outside of a track and field preliminary meet at Yorba Linda High on Saturday, an anti-transgender advocacy group called Save Girls' Sports organized a protest against California"

A pink flyer promoted an upcoming high school girls’ track and field meet while naming “a male athlete” and listing event start times for protesters. AB Hernandez, a transgender track athlete from Jurupa Valley High, previously faced similar tactics when she gained national attention. Her mother, Nereyda Hernandez, said they prepared for cameras, protesters, and vitriol during postseason after federal targeting of AB began about a year earlier. California’s CIF policies allow transgender athletes to compete with cisgender girls, and if they qualify or medal, the next athlete in line also advances or receives a medal. Protests continued despite inclusion policies, including a protest organized by Save Girls’ Sports at a preliminary meet at Yorba Linda High.

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