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California State Sen. Sabrina Cervantes honored transgender High School -Aatlet AB Hernandez, after Hernandez won more girls state titles in late May.
The Trans athlete, competing for the Jurupa Valley High School in Riverside County, California, was the subject of a ceremony in the Jurupa Council on Friday, where the athlete was recognized to win first place in the girls Højhopp and triple jump 31 May.
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Transgender Athlet AB Hernandez from Jurupa Valley competes in the girls High Jump under the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium 30 May 2025 in Clovis, California. (Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
“We just want to take a moment tonight to recognize AB Hernandez for their gravel, their passion and their dedication to this sport,” Cervantes said.
“I’m just so proud to know that you are continuing to prevail in spite of all the noise out there and you are focused on your goals and your dreams and your hopes. We know how difficult it is to get to this level, to be an athlete at this level, and then, again, your dedication and passion is an inspiration for so many.”
No female athletes competing in Girls State Track and Field Championship were honored at the event on Friday.
Hernandez’s participation in the state final in May was the focus of tremendous political debate after President Donald Trump published truth social in the days that led to the competition warned the state not to allow Trans athletes to compete.
Rep Kevin Kiley reflects on the action of California’s Trans Athlet Conflict in the middle of the state’s fight with Trump
California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) made a series of sweeping rule changes in the days that led to the event to ensure that females ending behind a biological man would be appropriately rewarded a medal based on where they placed among female competitors.
During the medalist councils for the three events, the female competitors who finished somewhere behind Hernandez had to stand next to the trans -athlete on the podium.
AB Hernandez shares the first place on the triple jump podium on California Track and Field State Championship with a female competitor. (With permission from Beth Bourne)
Even with the rule changes, Hernandez’s presence in girls’ competition was given controversy and a heavy protest presence throughout the weekend. A plane flying a banner that said “No boys in the girls’ sports!” passed over the stadium.
Confidential protests plagued the championship with Pro-LGBTQ demonstrants and pro-female protesters who practiced signs, flags and clothing expressing their respective messages.
The conflict between the protesters at one point became violent when an LGBTQ protests allegedly hit the local conservative activist Josh Fulfer with a flagpole. Police records obtained by Pakinomist Digital Show were arrested for assault with a deadly weapon than a gun preventing a public officer and vandalism.
The US Department of Justice launched a lawsuit against the CIF and the California Department of Education for allegedly violating Title IX with its policies that allow men to compete in girls sports.
DOJ’s lawsuit asks for an injunction of state policy that allows men to compete against women in sports.
California’s policy “Exactly Athletic Opportunities for Girls … They also require girls to share intimate spaces, such as changing rooms, with boys causing a hostile educational environment that denies girls educational opportunities,” the trial said.
It will be the second legal battle that DOJ is fighting for the question, after launching a similar to Maine in April.
