Transgender Athlete Claims Victory in California High Jump Amid Protests
In a notable event at the California high school track-and-field championships, AB Hernandez, a transgender athlete, secured first place in the girls' high jump on Saturday, achieving a height of 5 feet, 7 inches without any failed attempts.
Hernandez shared the podium with Jillene Wetteland and Lelanie Laruelle, both biological females who also cleared the same height but had one failed attempt each. This unusual outcome stemmed from a recently enacted policy by the California Interscholastic Federation.
Earlier in the week, the federation revised its rules to ensure that biological females who finished behind a transgender athlete would not lose their standing, allowing all three competitors to celebrate their achievements together.
In addition to the high jump victory, Hernandez also placed second in the long jump event. The new regulations permitted an additional biological female athlete to compete in each category where Hernandez participated, further complicating the competitive landscape.
The policy change followed significant backlash regarding the federation's approach to Hernandez's participation, drawing criticism from various quarters, including political figures. Notably, former President Donald Trump expressed his discontent on social media, threatening to withhold federal funding from California unless it enforced stricter regulations against transgender athletes in women's sports.
“California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow ‘MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN’S SPORTS,’” Trump stated on Truth Social. He emphasized that this situation was unfair and detrimental to women and girls.
During the competition, a plane circled overhead for an hour, displaying a banner that read “No Boys in Girls’ Sports!” This protest was organized by activist groups such as the Independent Council on Women’s Sports and Women Are Real.
Among the spectators, many wore pink bracelets inscribed with “Save Girls’ Sports” as a form of protest against Hernandez's participation. Tensions escalated outside the venue, leading to an arrest during a confrontation between opposing demonstrators.
