California Transgender Athlete Met With Plane Banner at Event
On Friday, a 17-year-old transgender athlete AB Hernandez secured their place in the finals of three events at a competition for California school children while campaign groups flew a banner that read "No Boys in Girls' Sports!" over the event.
Newsweek contacted the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), which organized the competition, for comment on Saturday via telephone and voicemail message outside of regular office hours.
The transgender debate in the United States escalated during the 2024 presidential election cycle, as President Donald Trump pledged to minimize transgender athletes' participation in sports that don't match their biological sex. One of his first executive orders mandated that the government only recognize the existence of two sexes-male and female-which he said are "not changeable."
Trump took an interest in the California school competition posting earlier this week on Truth Social that California Governor Gavin Newsom, who he branded "Newscum," was illegally allowing "MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN'S SPORTS" and threatening to withhold federal funding.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday announced it is launching an investigation into California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the CIF regarding transgender participation in girls' sports in the state.
Over the past few years, a number of sports organizations have introduced bans on transgender participation in women's events including World Athletics, the U.K. Athletics Federation and World Aquatics.
On Friday, Hernandez, who was born a biological male, won preliminary heats in the high jump, long jump and triple jump at a California track and field state championship preliminary competition in Clovis, securing their position in Saturday's finals.
During the event, a banner reading "NO BOYS IN GIRLS' SPORTS!" was flown over Buchanan High School's Veterans Memorial Stadium by a small aircraft in a protest organized by the Women Are Real and Independent Council on Women's Sports campaign groups.
There was also an altercation, with the Clovis Police Department telling Fox News Digital that one person, who they identified as an LGBTQ+ activist, was arrested after allegedly smashing a car window using a flag pole after which pepper spray was deployed.
In response to criticism earlier this week, the CIF said it was expanding the pool of competitors and would also give a medal to any "biological female" who lost a medal to a transgender competitor.
In a press release the Independent Council on Women's Sport said: "California is beginning to reap the consequences of defying federal law and brazenly harming girls.
"How long will Governor Newsom and legislators in this state continue to prioritize granting a few boys the right to take opportunities and recognition away from girls? Not one single boy should ever be in girls' sports. It's the easiest problem in the world to solve-and the most brazen public 'screw you' to female athletes by Democrat leadership."
On X, formerly Twitter, former college athlete Riley Gaines, who campaigns against transgender participation in women's sports, wrote: "Plane flies 'No Boys in Girls' Sports' banner at California track and field state championship. AB Hernandez, a boy, will compete in the girls' high jump, triple jump, and long jump finals tomorrow. Great work by WomenAreReal and Independent Council on Women's Sports."
In a previous interview with California news outlet Capital & Main, ABHernandez said: "There's nothing I can do about people's actions, just focus on my own. I'm still a child, you're an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person."
Earlier this week on Truth Social, President Donald Trump wrote: "This week a transitioned Male athlete, at a major event, won 'everything,' and is now qualified to compete in the 'State Finals' next weekend. As a Male, he was a less than average competitor. As a Female, this transitioned person is practically unbeatable."
He added: "THIS IS NOT FAIR AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS...I am ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow the transitioned person to compete in the State Finals. This is a totally ridiculous situation!!!"
Finals for the California track and field state championship events are due to take place on Saturday. If Hernandez wins any of the three events they are taking part in, it is likely to renew controversy around their participation.
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