California volleyball group faces extra forfeits amid trans athlete controversy

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A women' highschool volleyball group in California noticed two extra video games on its schedule forfeited amid an ongoing controversy involving a trans athlete on its roster.

Maribel Munoz, the mom of a feminine participant on Jurupa Valley Excessive College's women' volleyball group, supplied Fox Information Digital copies of messages despatched by the group's coach, Liana Manu, to folks of gamers, informing them that the group's upcoming video games towards Rim of the World Excessive College on Aug. 25 and Orange Vista Excessive College on Aug. 29 had been forfeited.

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Jurupa Valley addressed the forfeits in an announcement to Fox Information Digital.

"We perceive and acknowledge the frustration of our Jurupa Valley Excessive College athletes who're prepared and ready to play. Choices to cancel matches had been made by groups in different districts," the assertion learn.

"As a public college district in California, JUSD is compelled to observe the regulation, which protects college students from discrimination primarily based on gender id and requires that college students be permitted to take part on athletic groups which might be according to their gender id (California Training Code 221.5 (f)) . That is according to the steerage supplied by California Legal professional Normal Rob Bonta and California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.

"We're pleased with our JVHS Jaguars and their willingness to play any group and characterize their college and our district with delight. We're at the moment working to search out extra matches to present them that chance."

Fox Information Digital has reached out to Rim of the World and Orange Vista for remark.

Nationwide consideration was thrust again onto Jurupa Valley Excessive College when Riverside Poly Excessive College's women' volleyball group introduced it forfeited an Aug. 15 recreation in an announcement. A number of dad and mom of Riverside Poly gamers, and a college board member, told Fox News Digital the forfeit was in response to the trans athlete on Jurupa Valley, AB Hernandez.

Hernandez's mom, Nereyda Hernandez, addressed the latest controversy in an unique assertion to Fox Information Digital.

"I perceive the discomfort some might really feel, as a result of I used to be as soon as there, too. The distinction is, I selected to be taught, to develop, and to open my coronary heart," she stated.

"Consider me, I do know some folks genuinely don’t perceive what it means to be transgender. I’m nonetheless studying too, proper alongside my baby. That's the reason I select to not reply with anger or disrespect. As an alternative, I select empathy, as a result of studying takes time, and compassion makes all of the distinction."

TRANS VOLLEYBALL PLAYER INCIDENT UNLEASHES PARADE OF ANGRY PARENTS ON ILLINOIS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

The assertion continued, "My child is petite, what units her aside shouldn't be her dimension or power, however her talent and the best way she performs the sport... This can be a baby, and I can guarantee you that she sees your daughters as friends, as teammates, as associates, not by means of a lens of something inappropriate. I do know it might be laborious to grasp, however she is simply one other lady who needs to play.

"Lastly, I go away you with this: My baby is so harmless, she didn’t even notice the forfeited video games had been due to her.

Jurupa Valley and Hernandez had been beforehand the topic of nationwide scrutiny through the spring monitor and area season, when the trans athlete made a run to 2 women' state titles in lengthy soar and triple soar.

The postseason meets that Hernandez competed in had been met with protests by feminine athletes and their households who typically wore the "Save Women Sports activities" shirts. The incidents appeared to attract a response from President Donald Trump, who posted a Reality Social message the week main as much as the state remaining advising the state to not enable a trans athlete to compete. Nevertheless, Trump didn't immediately reference Hernandez immediately within the publish.

Then, in July, the U.S. Division of Justice filed a lawsuit towards the California Department of Education (CDE) and CIF for its insurance policies which have allowed organic males to compete in women' sports activities throughout the state regardless of Trump signing an govt order in February to ban it.

Now, Hernandez, a senior, is within the midst of the athlete's remaining highschool volleyball season, which is being wrought with much more controversy amid the rising string of forfeits.

Munoz, who says her daughter has performed alongside Hernandez on the ladies' volleyball group for the final three years, is the primary dad or mum of one of many trans athlete's teammates to talk out towards the college for its dealing with of the scenario.

"It makes me really feel unhappy, it makes me really feel offended, annoyed, simply so many feelings," Munoz advised Fox Information Digital.

After the Riverside Poly forfeit, native dad and mom confirmed as much as the Riverside Unified College District board assembly on Thursday to talk out in assist of the ladies who forfeited and towards the college district for its present gender insurance policies, whereas others spoke in assist of trans athletes in women' sports activities.

Nereyda Hernandez, confirmed as much as defend AB's proper to play in women' sports activities, and condemned board member Amanda Vickers for beforehand interviewing with Fox Information Digital concerning the forfeit final week.

"Amanda Vickers, you interviewed with Fox. You truly entertained and welcomed harassment to my baby. You're a board member. You've gotten an oath to guard, to assist all youngsters, not simply those that suit your concepts, your beliefs," Hernandez stated.

"Once you enable or tolerate focused harassment, whether or not on-line, in individual or permitting false narratives to be unfold at board conferences, you're solely failing morally.

First-place winners AB Hernandez, left, and Jillene Wetteland share a lightweight second earlier than the medal ceremony for the excessive soar on the California highschool track-and-field championships in Clovis, California, Saturday, Might 31, 2025. (AP Photograph/Jae C. Hong)

"My daughter shouldn't be the issue. The issue is coordinated exterior efforts typically led by people that journey from district to district… to unfold concern and put dad and mom towards one another utilizing faith as a protect for discrimination. This has nothing to do with equity in sports activities and every part to do with erasing transgender youngsters."

One mom, Maria Correo, spoke in assist of the Riverside Poly gamers and condemned dad and mom enabling male youngsters to play in women' sports activities.

"The ladies, nice job. Poly women, we stand with you. Preserve combating, as a result of these dad and mom that assist their confused baby are the issue," Correo stated. "If my baby was on medicine, I'd love him, however guess what? I'd inform him the reality; medicine are dangerous for you. I'd not feed him extra medicine."

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The Jurupa Valley women' volleyball common season is about to run by means of the center of October.

In the meantime, Trump has not taken his eye off California for its defiance of Title IX with the DOJ's lawsuit now in movement. The president warned California and Gov. Gavin Newsom concerning the state’s transgender insurance policies in a publish on Reality Social on Thursday.

"Any California college district that doesn’t adhere to our Transgender insurance policies, won't be funded. Thanks on your consideration to this matter!" Trump wrote within the publish.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports activities author for Fox Information Digital. He beforehand labored for ESPN and Enterprise Insider. Jackson has coated the Tremendous Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.