Protesters gather as California transgender student-athlete competes in CIF finals amid controversy
CLOVIS, Calif. (KABC) -- The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Championships in high school track-and-field were held on Saturday in Clovis, but much of the attention has centered on a transgender student-athlete from Jurupa Valley.
The controversy comes as the sports federation changed the rules for the competition.
High school junior AB Hernandez has made headlines after President Donald Trump remarked on the transgender female athlete who competed this weekend in the California State Championships for high jump, long jump, and triple jump.
AB was assigned male at birth, but identifies as female. The high school junior placed first in the prelims for all three of her events.
Earlier this week, Trump threatened to pull federal funding to California if something was not done to prevent transgender participation in girls' sports.
READ MORE: Threatening to withhold funding for California, Trump cites case of transgender athlete at IE school
Protesters gathered in Clovis over the weekend, opposing AB's participation.
"Female athletes, we're not pawns in a social experiment. We are competitors and leaders who have earned the right to compete on equal ground," said protestor Sophie Lorey. "California is failing our girls. This isn't some complicated gray area. This is basic biology and common sense. This is the erasure of female athletics."
The CIF then announced a compromise, allowing two additional athletes to compete if AB made the finals. And if AB makes the podium, the next finisher will receive the same medal.
Equity California released a joint statement with Trans Family Support and Our Schools U.S.A., saying, in part, they are "disturbed by Trump's attack against a transgender athlete who earned her spot through grit, talent, and determination."
"When the Trump administration or other politicians launch attacks on transgender kids like this, they put a target on them for bullying, harassment in school and online," said Tom Temprano, the managing director of Equity California. "These aren't just words coming from officials, they have real consequences."
Former NFL player Chris Kluwe, who was arrested earlier this year in Huntington Beach for protesting a MAGA plaque, spoke out Saturday at the Democratic Convention in Anaheim about AB's right to compete.
"We do not abandon our trans community because it might be unpopular," Kluwe said.
AB's mother released a statement, saying her child has been competing fairly in California sports for three years. She said she is heartbroken that her child is being attacked for simply being who she is.
Meanwhile, those protesting say there shouldn't be a compromise. They say there is no place for those assigned male at birth to compete in girls' sports.
Equity California says the CIF's new rules are somewhat of a pilot program for everyone to see how this will work going forward. They said they look forward to working with CIF to be inclusive to all students.
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