California high school girls’ volleyball team faces eighth forfeit over trans athlete AB Hernandez

JURUPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA: At least eight California high school volleyball teams have now decided to walk away from Jurupa Valley High School, home of transgender athlete AB Hernandez.

The latest tap-out came from Patriot High School, which was scheduled to play Jurupa Valley on September 26. Both schools are part of the same Jurupa Unified School District (JUSD), making this one sting even more.

"We can confirm the Patriot High School volleyball team will forfeit their September 26 match," JUSD said in a statement to Fox News.

This marked the first time a team from within JUSD itself forfeited rather than play Jurupa Valley. 

Eight schools forfeit matches against AB Hernandez

Jurupa Valley has been seeing several opponents throw in the towel in recent weeks. On September 13, Aquinas High School, Yucaipa High School, and San Dimas High School all forfeited during the Freeway Games tournament.

Before that, Riverside Poly High School, Rim of the World High School, Orange Vista High School, and AB Miller High School also refused to take the court against Hernandez and the Jurupa Valley squad.

That brings the growing list to eight schools waving the white flag. 

Jurupa Valley teammates sue over transgender athlete AB Hernandez

The controversy has now reached the courtroom. Three of Hernandez’s current and former teammates have filed a lawsuit against JUSD, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), and the California Department of Education (CDE).

Two of them, seniors Alyssa McPherson and Hadeel Hazameh, told Fox News earlier that they are stepping away from the team entirely as long as Hernandez plays. The third plaintiff is Alyssa’s older sister, Madison, who graduated last year.

Their lawsuit claims, "Plaintiffs have been intimidated by an intentionally hostile environment created by Defendants wherein they were bullied by school officials to censor their objections to competing with, and against, a male and to sharing intimate and private spaces with a male."

The McPherson family identifies as practicing Catholics and said they "believe that God created human beings as male and female and that gender is a fixed characteristic that cannot be changed. Their faith informs their understanding of human identity and shapes their views regarding the importance of recognizing and honoring the distinctives of male and female as created by God," according to court filings.

Hazameh and her family are practicing Muslims and also cite faith. Court documents state that "religious obligations prevent [Hazameh] from exposing her hair or body to males, including by wearing a hijab. Guided by Islamic teachings, they believe that men and women have distinct biological differences, roles, and responsibilities, which should be respected and upheld." 

California officials deflect responsibility in transgender athlete dispute

As the lawsuits and forfeits pile up, JUSD has made it clear it is not looking to be the referee. The district has punted the matter to Sacramento.

"School districts do not write laws for the state of California, nor do they have the power to ignore them or change them," JUSD said in a statement. "However, as primarily state-funded agencies, they are required to follow them. As these issues play out in our courts and the media, any advocacy on these matters should be directed at state and federal officials elected to make laws and policies that affect public education."

The California Department of Education is not weighing in either. "The California Department of Education cannot comment on this matter, as we cannot comment on pending litigation," a spokesperson told Fox News.

When asked about parents’ and athletes’ complaints, Gov Gavin Newsom’s team made clear it is not under his authority.

 "CIF is an independent nonprofit that governs high school sports. The California Department of Education is a separate constitutional office. Neither is under the Governor’s authority," the statement read. "CIF and the CDE have stated they follow existing state law — a law that was passed in 2013 and signed by Governor Jerry Brown (not Newsom) and in line with 21 other states. For the law to change, the legislature would need to send the Governor a bill. They have not."

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