Orange Vista High School has become the latest California institution to forfeit a volleyball match against Jurupa Valley High School, where transgender athlete AB Hernandez competes on the girls' team.
The decision emerged following deliberations between student-athletes and their coaching staff regarding the scheduled 29th August fixture.
School officials confirmed the cancellation was coordinated with athletic directors from both institutions. Orange Vista emphasised that student welfare remained their primary concern throughout the decision-making process.
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Orange Vista High School forfeited a volleyball match because of a transgender athlete on the other team
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The school praised their athletes for voicing their perspectives and working collectively to reach a team-based resolution.
This forfeit adds to mounting controversy surrounding Jurupa Valley's volleyball programme this season, as multiple schools have declined to compete against the team featuring Hernandez.
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The controversy centres around AB Hernandez, a transgender student competing for Jurupa Valley High School's girls' volleyball squad.
Riverside Poly High School initially brought national attention to the situation when they forfeited their 15th August match against Jurupa Valley.
Multiple parents from Riverside Poly, alongside a school board member, confirmed their forfeit directly responded to Hernandez's presence on the opposing roster.
The team's coach, Liana Manu, has been communicating with parents about cancelled fixtures, including matches against Rim of the World High School on 25th August.
Hernandez is a senior at Jurupa Valley, making this volleyball season the athlete's last opportunity to compete at high school level.
The ongoing forfeits have disrupted the team's regular fixture schedule throughout the current campaign.
Jurupa Valley High School defended their position by stating they must comply with California state legislation protecting students from gender identity discrimination.
The district referenced California Education Code 221.5 (f), which mandates student participation on athletic teams matching their gender identity.
School officials cited guidance from California Attorney General Rob Bonta and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond supporting their stance.
The district expressed disappointment for their prepared athletes whilst acknowledging that opposing schools made the cancellation decisions independently.
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Orange Vista High School released their reasoning for forfeiting the volleyball match
|Orange Vista's statement emphasised their commitment to student wellbeing above competitive considerations.
"After thoughtful discussions our student-athletes had with coaching staff, it was decided to cancel our upcoming Girls' Varsity volleyball match against Jurupa Valley High School," the school declared.
Jurupa Valley confirmed they are actively seeking replacement fixtures to provide their team with competitive opportunities despite the ongoing forfeits.
Nereyda Hernandez, AB's mother, provided an exclusive statement addressing the mounting controversy surrounding her child's participation.
She acknowledged understanding the discomfort some individuals experience.
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AB Hernandez's position on the volleyball team has caused controversy
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"I understand the discomfort some may feel, because I was once there, too. The difference is, I chose to learn, to grow, and to open my heart," she explained. Hernandez emphasised that her child's distinguishing qualities stem from athletic ability rather than physical attributes.
"This is a child, and I can assure you that she sees your daughters as peers, as team-mates, as friends, not through a lens of anything inappropriate," she stated. The mother revealed Hernandez remained unaware that recent match cancellations resulted from the athlete's presence on the team.
The federal government has initiated legal proceedings against California's transgender athlete participation policies through the Department of Justice.
In July, federal prosecutors filed a lawsuit targeting both the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation for permitting biological males to compete in girls' sports statewide.
Multiple schools have refused to face Jurupa Valley High School
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This legal action directly challenges policies that contradict President Donald Trump's February executive order prohibiting such participation. The lawsuit represents broader federal opposition to California's inclusive athletic policies that currently protect transgender students' rights to compete according to their gender identity.
The timing of these forfeits coincides with this ongoing federal legal challenge, creating additional pressure on California school districts navigating between state requirements and federal directives regarding transgender athlete participation in scholastic sports programmes.