California girls’ volleyball team forfeits game involving transgender state champ athlete

A California high school girls’ volleyball team refused to play a game that would involve a male transgender opponent who previously won state championships in track and field.

Riverside Poly High School announced Aug. 15 it would not play Jurupa Valley High School.

“Riverside Poly High School’s girls volleyball team will not take the court for tonight’s scheduled game against Jurupa Valley High School,” the school said in a statement. “This match will be recorded as a forfeit in non-league standings. We understand this is disappointing for our athletes, families and supporters, and we appreciate the community’s understanding. We remain committed to providing a safe, positive environment for all student-athletes throughout the season.”

The statement did not explain the reason for the forfeit.

However, parents told Fox News the decision involved fairness and safety because Jurupa Valley’s roster includes transgender athlete AB Hernandez, who won the state championship in the girls’ high jump and triple jump earlier this year.

“The decision was not about hatred or anything negative. Trans people still have rights but not a right to play sports against the opposite sex,” said Fred Brayton, the father of a Riverside Poly player. “It is not about AB. It is about women need[ing] to play against other women. It is about boys participating in girls sports. The small minority of the community that thinks we are discriminating have it wrong. You can be trans all day long, but you can’t be a boy and play girl sports. You can still go about being trans but probably need to focus on that and not playing sports against the opposite sex.”

The Riverside Poly girls decided not to play, according to Brayton.

One unnamed mother said she refused to let her daughter compete.

“Two reasons: for her safety, number one … and two, men shouldn’t be in women’s sports,” she said. “I’m not willing to risk her safety because [Hernandez] wants to play on a girls’ team … so this is a pretty good message, I think it’s pretty bold of these girls and their parents to have to care and be willing to forfeit the game to make that statement.”

Jurupa Unified responded to the forfeit without delving into the controversy.

“We were notified that Riverside Poly High School canceled today’s scheduled girls volleyball match with Jurupa Valley High School,” its statement said. “They did not disclose the reason. We have no additional comment at this time.”