Transgender athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley High School secured a third-place medal in the CIF state championship long jump on Saturday, marking her second consecutive year medaling in the event. Hernandez, who is transgender, has faced harassment and protests from opponents of transgender athletes in girls' sports. Under CIF policy, transgender athletes who place at state championships receive medals but do not displace cisgender girls in the final standings. The rule applies to long jump, triple jump, and high jump—events Hernandez competed in this weekend.
Hernandez jumped 20 feet, 2 1/4 inches, finishing behind first-place finishers Ellie McCuskey-Hay of St. Ignatius (20-3½) and Gianna Gonzalez of Moorpark (20-3½). She shared the podium with Corrine Jones of St. Mary’s Berkeley, who reached 19-9 ½. The atmosphere at the championships was calmer than last year, though Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton held a news conference outside the stadium on Friday, criticizing CIF’s policies on transgender athletes.
Activists clashed outside the event, with pro-LGBTQ groups and "Save Girls Sports" advocates engaging in a heated verbal confrontation. Police were present but did not intervene directly. Beth Bourne, a prominent "Save Girls Sports" activist, argued that allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports is unfair to both cisgender athletes and transgender individuals. Meanwhile, Daisy Gardner, a pro-LGBTQ activist, defended Hernandez’s participation.
The CIF’s policy, implemented last year, ensures that transgender athletes do not displace cisgender competitors in final standings. Hernandez’s mother, Nereyda Hernandez, has previously stated she is prepared for continued protests. The primary election in California was just four days away at the time of the event, adding political context to the debate.