Latest news with #NereydaHernandez
The Guardian
05-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
Teen athlete targeted by Trump's anti-trans attacks: ‘I know how hard I've worked. That's what matters'
AB Hernandez, a 16-year-old track and field athlete from California, had trained for years for this moment. On Saturday, the high school junior from Jurupa Valley, a city east of Los Angeles, won first place in the high jump, first place in the triple jump and silver in the long jump in the state finals. 'Track is everything to me. Track is my little baby,' she told the Guardian on Tuesday. 'It's crazy I can say that I'm a state champion for something I love so much. It's an honor.' The track meet should have drawn little attention outside of the local news that cover high school sports. But the Trump administration, and anti-LGBTQ+ activists from across the country, have turned AB's achievements into an international media spectacle, because she is transgender. Last week, Donald Trump targeted AB in a frenzied social media post, claiming he was 'ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow' her to compete, writing her participation was 'NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS'. AB said she was not letting the attacks distract her or take away her joy: 'I can tune it out pretty well. I don't really care. It's weird when reporters come, and I'm like, I forgot I'm famous now,' she said, with a laugh. 'But for the most part, I'm living a normal life, and then I go on social media and, I'm like, wait, I'm known.' Her mother, Nereyda Hernandez, said she backs her daughter '120%' and has been blown away by the hard work she's put into accomplishing her dreams. 'Years ago, she said, 'In my junior year, I'm going to place first.' How does a child set these goals and actually achieve them? That's amazing and incredible.' Trump's missives came after he has spent the first months of his second term attacking the rights of trans youth to live openly at school, access anti-discrimination protections, participate in activities that match their gender and obtain vital healthcare. On Tuesday, the US justice department claimed in a letter to California school districts that it was 'unconstitutional' to allow trans youth to play sports that align with their gender, and Trump threatened 'large-scale fines'. The president has repeatedly targeted Maine's federal funding over its trans-inclusive sports policies, but the northeast state scored a significant courtroom victory last month that blocked a key part of the administration's efforts. California has for more than a decade allowed trans girls to participate in girls' sports, with little fanfare or pushback and in line with policies in more than 20 other states. But Republicans and anti-LGBTQ+ groups in the US have in recent years made trans youth participation in sports a top policy priority, amid growing global debate about trans athletes in women's sports. The calls for further restrictions in schools target a tiny fraction of the population. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) president said last year he was aware of fewer than ten trans athletes in college across the US, and anti-trans groups have previously acknowledged they could identify even fewer trans youth at the K-12 level. Gavin Newsom, California's Democratic governor, recently drew sharp rebukes from LGBTQ+ rights groups and members of his own party when he said in a podcast that he felt the participation of trans girls in sports was 'deeply unfair'. In the wake of Trump's threats, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), a nonprofit that regulates high school sports, announced a 'pilot' for new rules. In the high jump, triple jump and long jump, the events AB competes in, CIF said cisgender girls who would have qualified for the state championship if they hadn't lost to a trans girl would still advance, and that cis girls would also win the highest medals even if a trans girl beats them. The CIF did not respond to inquiries on Wednesday. Izzy Gardon, a Newsom spokesperson, praised the CIF pilot in an email, saying it was a 'reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness'. While AB has faced escalating backlash and harassment from outside groups, she and her mom said her own school community has consistently supported her. AB said her classmates in Jurupa Valley, a city Trump won by two points, understood that she excelled in track because of the time and energy she dedicated: 'They see how hard I train. I constantly watch [myself] on film, see what I can do better. I probably do 10 times more than any athlete at my school. They see that, and the media doesn't. They have a lot of respect for me and I don't get hate at my own school.' Over the weekend, as temperatures soared above 100F (38C) in Clovis in central California, AB shared her two gold wins and one silver with other girls, who stood alongside her at the podium – and were quick to embrace her. Brooke White, who earned second place in the long jump alongside AB, told the San Francisco Chronicle: 'Sharing the podium was nothing but an honor. Although the publicity she's been receiving has been pretty negative, I believe she deserves publicity because she's a superstar, she's a rock star, she's representing who she is.' Jillene Wetteland, who shared the high-jump first place with AB and another girl, told the paper: 'I love both of the people I tied with.' As they celebrated their wins, some adult protesters heckled and attacked AB on the sidelines. 'I will forever be grateful for these girls,' AB told the Guardian. 'When we were lining up to get our medals, I told them: 'You made my experience perfect. I couldn't have done it without you.' It was amazing to see they stood up for me.' Her mother, who first spoke out in news outlet Capital and Main in April, said she wasn't surprised to see overwhelming support from her daughter's competitors, which, she noted, contradicted the claims of anti-trans groups that the cis girls were victimized by AB's participation: 'The girls have never had an issue with AB. What is put out there is a false narrative that has to do with a political campaign. I tell AB, don't take it personally. They're using you. Don't get distracted by this.' Nereyda Hernandez has acknowledged that she previously supported Trump and said she considers herself non-partisan: 'I wanted to put that out there so people know it doesn't matter what your political views are, you can still be accepting and supportive of your family member.' She said she was raised Catholic and it was a process to understand and accept her daughter: 'But I told AB from day one, 'You're still my baby, so I'm going to support you.' I've been open that it's going to be a little difficult, because it's not what I'm used to, but I said I'm willing to learn and accept. Honestly, it's the best thing I could have done, because I cannot imagine what this child would have went through if I was close-minded and unsupportive.' She said faith and politics should never get in the way of parents supporting their children: 'God gave us these children, what would God want us to do? Protect, support and love our kids. So that's what I'm doing.' The mother and daughter said they were using donated funds to get a letterman jacket marking her victories, and AB said she planned to spend her final high school summer practicing and hanging with friends. She is interested in applying to a prestigious California university and wants to go into nursing. AB's message to other trans youth athletes who might be afraid to compete in this climate? 'You are probably going to be the only person who knows how hard you work. As long as you know you've put in the time, the work, the effort, that's all that matters. Whatever anyone else says, and it might be a large-scale of people, just tune it out.' Her mother works as a legal document assistant and said she was well-versed in her daughter's rights and has been making that clear to anyone who tries to violate their privacy or undermine her achievements. 'They try to use intimidation tactics to push people to quit, but I'm not scared of them. They bark, but we bite,' she said. 'I don't think they realized who they messed with. People say, 'Ooh, they messed with the wrong kid.' But at the same time, they messed with the right one. Because I'm not keeping my mouth shut.'
CBS News
01-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
Transgender student athlete medals in California track championships amid protests, scrutiny from Trump administration
A transgender teenager from Southern California competed in Saturday's CIF track-and-field finals despite drawing national scrutiny and criticism from President Trump over her participation earlier in the week. AB Hernandez, a Jurupa Valley High School junior, competed in several events on Saturday after finishing as the top qualifier in the girls high jump, long jump and triple jump on Friday. "There's no words to express how proud I am of her, despite her being targeted, harassed for all these months. She's here, she's successful, she did it," said Hernandez's mother Nereyda. "When you're actually here the whole event, you actually see, it's not just hating. There's more support, there's more love." Hernandez took home first place medals in both high jump and triple jump and she placed second in the long jump event. Following a rule change by the California Interscholastic Federation, a co-winner was named in each of the three events in which Hernandez placed. Transgender athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley leaves the track during the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium on May 30, 2025 in Clovis, California. Getty Images The policy change allows an additional athlete to compete and earn a medal in events in which a transgender athlete also qualified. "If necessary, in the high jump, triple jump and long jump events at the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships, a biological female student-athlete who would have earned a specific placement on the podium will also be awarded the medal for that place and the results will be reflected in the recording of the event," CIF officials said in a statement issued on Wednesday. "The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law," the statement said. Related: Nationwide debate over Jurupa Valley transgender athlete's eligibility in CIF finals continues CIF officials announced the new policy days before the championships, which then drew a response from the U.S. Department of Justice as they launched a Title IX investigation over transgender athlete participation in California high school sports. Their rule change was announced less than a day after Mr. Trump took to Truth Social to comment on the matter, threatening to pull federal funding from the state if Hernandez competed. People hold Save Girls Sports signs in protest of transgender athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley (not pictured) during the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium on May 30, 2025 in Clovis, California. Getty Images Some high school coaches who had student-athletes participating in the finals offered their support for Hernandez, including Santa Margarita High School's Bryn Williams. "This is still a high schooler," Williams said. "She is learning, she is navigating the world just like we are every single day and that I know I would want grace if I was put in a situation where I had a bunch of light on me and what I was doing. So I encourage people to remember that. We are all human and at the end of the day we are all trying to navigate this world." The finals began Friday at Buchanan High School in Clovis, which is located in Fresno County. Aside from the crowd that gathered to support participating athletes, the event also drew about 20 protesters who denounced Hernandez's participation. Some could be seen holding signs that read "Save Girls Sports" and an airplane also flew over the event pulling a banner that read, "No Boys in Girls' Sports." One person was arrested following an altercation between counter protesters, Clovis police said. Video shows the moments that the person is taken into custody by officers, as well as the moments leading up to their arrest, when they shoved a flag pole through someone's window. The car owner on the other end of the alleged attack spoke with CBS News Los Angeles on Saturday about why he was protesting. "I think it's completely unfair to these girls," said Josh Fulfer. "They've worked hard. He has an advantage by being a male and it's really unfortunate that these girls, the psychological effect that it has on them and places on them when they know they're not only competing against people of their own sex, but now they gotta go up against a man. ... I think it's really bad that we're setting this precedent." Despite this, business continued as usual inside of the stadium, and the events were completed without disruption.
Daily Mail
30-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Mother of trans track and field star fires back at President Trump after he demands California block her from state championships
The mother of the besieged transgender track and field star set be a winner in this weekend's state championships has come out with guns blazing, lambasting President Trump for targeting her child in a 'campaign of national cruelty' after he demanded California bar her daughter from this weekend's games. Nereyda Hernandez was defending her 17-year-old daughter, AB, who is a biological male, after Trump railed on Truth Social about her qualifying for the California track and field state finals in the long jump and triple jump, which kick off today. Aligning with his long-standing criticism against California Governor Gavin Newsom for allowing transgender student-athletes to compete in sex-segregated sports, his tirade on X threatened to pull federal funding if his Executive Order titled Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports was not 'adhered to'. 'California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow "MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN'S SPORTS,"' Trump wrote on May 27. '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.' Then, he added in all caps, 'THIS IS NOT FAIR AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS.' Trump went on to threaten: ' Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to. 'The Governor, himself, said it is "UNFAIR." I will speak to him today to find out which way he wants to go??? In the meantime, 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!!!' Following through on his threat, the DOJ announced yesterday that it would be ramping up an investigation into the state's high school sports amid fears of Title IX violations. But this didn't fly for Nereyda who heavily criticized the President's 'weapons of harm' in utilizing the 'Bible and your politics' to attack people on his social media platform. She also stated he needed to 'open your heart and mind to learn about the LGBTQ+ community'. The mother wrote: 'From the people living these lives with courage, love and dignity. As a leader of this country, you have the power to unite, to educate, and to uplift rather than destroy. Trump posted it to Truth Social and said Governor Newsom believes the executive order is unfair, but he doubled down saying he would order local authorities if necessary 'Hate has no place in leadership and NO child, ESPECIALLY not MINE, should become the target of a national campaign of cruelty just because they are different. We need a president who protects ALL children, not just the ones that fit a political narrative.' She ended by saying, 'We must choose unity over division, love over hate, and humanity over politics. 'My child is not a threat; SHE IS LIGHT!!! As AB's mother, I will continue to stand by her, proudly fiercely, and unconditionally.' At the end of the post, it was signed 'AB's Mom' with a heart emoji. Nereyda declined to give a comment to but stated: 'I'm sure you can understand where I am coming from. 'My Primary responsibility is to protect AB's wellbeing, privacy, and dignity and we have decided to respectfully decline an interview.' The 17-year-old high school trans athlete is a junior who attends Jurupa Valley High School, located about 60 miles west of Los Angeles. She is set to compete in the state finals from May 30 to the 31, hosted in Clovis, after winning the girl's triple jump and long jump competition in the California Interscholastic Federation's Southern Section on May 24. The competition starts at 3pm Pacific time today, with 25 girls competing in each event, where it'll be determined whether or not AB will listen to Trump's demands or follow through with competing in her first event, the triple jump, at 6pm. Following Trump's Truth Social rant, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) changed its rules for this weekend's Track and Field Championships, stating, 'Under this pilot entry process, any biological female student-athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark on one of their Section's automatic qualifying entries in the CIF State meet, and did not achieve the CIF State at-large mark in the finals at their section meet, was extended an opportunity to participate in the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships.' went through the 'meet program' for this week's upcoming State Championships. AB Hernandez, as a girl in the Varsity Long Jump category, had a seed mark of 19' 3.5' and in the triple jump category 40' 4.75'. If she, as a biological male, competed against the boys in this year's championship, AB would not have even qualified in this weekend's championships. In track and field, a 'seed mark' refers to an athlete's performance level, typically their fastest time or best distance achieved in a previous meet, used to arrange athletes into heats or sections for a competition. Hernandez waiting to compete at the girl's long jump during the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet on May 24, which allowed her to qualify for the state championships This helps in creating fairer competition by grouping athletes with similar abilities together. can also reveal that AB's name at birth was Abraham Delgado, born in Riverside, California, on August 4, 2008, according to court records filed by Nereyda in June 2012. The records stated she petitioned the Riverside County courts to change Abraham's last name from Delgado to Hernandez. She lists Abraham's father as JayDee Delgado from Riverside, California. attempted to reach out to Abraham's father, but he did not respond to requests for comment. Per the court records, there was no reply from Abraham's father, causing the judge to approve the name change petition on August 6, 2012, legally making her name Abraham Hernandez. Nereyda then changed AB's name again, 9 years later in 2021, from Abraham Hernandez to Abraham Hernandez-Jimenez. could not locate any court records that show Abraham's name has been changed to AB. In a local interview, Nereyda says that she did not know her daughter was trans until AB was in the eighth grade. Other court records appear to confirm this as Nereyda referred to Abraham as her son, in a Civil Harassment Restraining Order against a relative, which was eventually dismissed. But in another Civil Harassment Restraining Order filed on behalf of AB in March of this year, the mother refers to AB as A.B. Hernandez, aka Abraham Hernandez, and put down the gender as X - although she dismissed the action days later. spoke with an acquaintance of ABs outside a local coffee shop in Jurupa Valley, the student did not want to give his name but said he has known AB since elementary school. 'I knew him as Abraham; he's always been this way since I can remember. He's always been effeminate, I don't think anyone who knew him growing up would be shocked but the transformation. 'Then a few years ago he wanted everyone to call her AB, so we did. She's well liked in school; most people don't really care what she does. It's not that big of a deal that she's competing as a girl.' But for many it is a big deal, in last week's regional track meet, several parents voiced their displeasure about AB competing as a girl. In video footage circulating online, AB's mother was confronted by rival parents, labeling her as a 'coward.'
