Trans athlete AB Hernandez’s mother says criticism is politically motivated ahead of midterm elections
Trans athlete wins girls’ track meet in California
NCAA Women’s soccer player Sophia Lorey describes the ‘heartbreaking’ impact of a transgender athlete’s victory in girls’ track meets at a meet in California. Speaking at the ‘Save Girls Sports’ rally, Lorey condemned Governor Newsom’s characterization of protesters as ‘bullies’ and emphasized the injustice towards female athletes and the need for fair competition.
As the debate over transgender athletes continues in California, concerns about the fairness of competition remain at the center of the debate.
Boys-born Jurupa Valley senior AB Hernandez had three dominant performances in the girls events at the CIF Southern Section Division 3 prelims.
Save Girls’ Sports activists gathered outside Yorba Linda High School in protest, and OutKick documented it firsthand through interviews with parents and those in attendance.
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One participant acknowledged that a discussion about a high school athlete could become controversial, but argued that the issue of fairness is simple. They said the results spoke for themselves after Hernandez’s dominant performance.
Criticism of competitive inequalities intensified following the meeting, with pro-trans activists pushing back with the familiar argument that participation was more important than results, while opponents argued that female athletes were missing out on opportunities in the process.
Trans athlete AB Hernandez swept the jumps at the CIF Division 3 prelims and fueled the ongoing fairness debate. (OutKick/Alejandro Avila) ((OutKick/Alejandro Avila))
Hernandez will continue to compete under CIF rules, which allow participation by transgender individuals, and is scheduled to compete on Saturday, May 16, before advancing to the CIF finals in Clovis later this month.
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AB Hernandez’s mother, Nereyda, declined to speak to OutKick about fairness in women’s sports, but said: Los Angeles Times He said in an exclusive interview that criticism of his child was fueled by politics during the by-election period.
Addressing the backlash from the May 9 primaries, Nereyda said he encouraged the EU to ignore activists and dismissed most criticism as politically motivated.
“When they started sharing,” Nereyda told the Times. [online] “I thought, ‘Wow, this is going to be another crazy year,'” he said of their protests. “But no, there were maybe 10 people outside. … They are there to target one child, but they affect them all.”
Nereyda also suggested that the debate surrounding the EU is becoming increasingly politicized as the national debate over transgender athletes intensifies.
“I told the EU, this is a [midterm] “It’s an election year,” Nereyda said. “They’re going to hit us hard because they’re using us for their campaigns.”
Nereyda Hernandez during a CIF Southern Section Division 5 girls volleyball playoff game on Oct. 22, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
Hernandez’s standout performance in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 qualifiers included wins of more than four feet in the triple jump and more than three feet in the long jump.
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These margins are quite significant at the elite high school level.
Supporters of Save Girls’ Sports say Hernandez’s results highlight the competitive advantages created by biological differences in girls athletics.
Nereyda and activists supporting the EU defended CIF policies that allow transgender athletes to compete based on gender identity, even as California Governor Gavin Newsom publicly acknowledged concerns about fairness.
“I think it’s a fairness issue. I totally agree with you on that,” Newsom told Charlie Kirk during a podcast appearance in early 2025.
The California governor continued: “This is a matter of justice. It’s deeply unfair,” he said. “I’m not struggling with the justice issue. I completely agree with you.”
Despite the growing backlash, Nereyda Hernandez does not hesitate to criticize protesters for disturbing her family’s peace. He dismissed much of the criticism as outward agitation rather than concern for families directly involved in the contest.
“He’s been doing this sport since the first grade. [of high school]” said Nereyda. “He’s not doing anything wrong.”
“These are just outsiders,” Nereyda added. “They sneak in, they act like they’re parents or they act like they know people, but I’m a mom. I know who they are.”
Supporters of Save Girls’ Sports often cite high-profile college cases as evidence of a widening competitive gap in women’s athletics.
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. (Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
Critics portray the move as politically motivated, but many athletes and families insist their concerns are focused on competition rather than ideology.
They argue that women’s sports exist to preserve opportunities and preserve competition for female athletes under Title IX.
The most frequently cited examples include former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, who transitioned from competing on the men’s team, where Thomas was ranked 462nd in the nation before winning the NCAA Division I women’s national championship.
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Advocates argue that protected physical advantages still create inequities that female athletes cannot overcome through training alone.
The move also points to San Jose State volleyball player Blair Fleming, whose presence on the court sparked national controversy and caused opponents to forfeit matches over safety concerns and the integrity of the women’s division.
In a separate statement released through TransFamily Support Services, Nereyda Hernandez said most of the abuse against AB comes from adults, including people “in positions of power who are supposed to be protectors of our youth.”
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While he said the EU was “under attack simply because of who it is”, he noted that the opponents themselves generally showed respect.
While the emotional weight of a mother defending her child is undeniable, supporters of Save Girls’ Sports argue that compassion for an athlete should not deprive other young women of their opportunities.
They point to increased performance gaps as trans participation in girls’ and women’s sports increases, evidence supporting these concerns.
For years, athletes and parents who have questioned the participation of transgender people in women’s sports have often been labeled transphobic.
But as the debate gains national attention, more families are arguing that acknowledging biological differences is not an act of hate.
Supporters say girls are losing podium places, titles and scholarship opportunities to competitors with measurable physical advantages.
Nereyda Hernandez told the Times that her family was looking forward to the reunion, despite the expected protests.
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Meanwhile, fans insist their aim was not to attack a student but to defend women’s sports.
For supporters of Save Girls’Sports, the answer is clear: Protected competition for female athletes must come first.
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