California Girls Refuse to Play with Transgender Teammate
In Riverside County, California, a quiet high school volleyball gym has become the epicenter of a heated national debate. When two Jurupa Valley High School athletes refused to play alongside a transgender teammate-citing concerns over safety, fairness, and comfort-it sparked a ripple effect across California high school sports. Within weeks, several schools forfeited matches in protest, social media lit up with polarized reactions, and the discussion about transgender inclusion in athletics once again took center stage.
This story is no longer about a single team. It reflects a growing cultural fault line where LGBTQ+ inclusion policies collide with concerns from female athletes, their families, and some school communities. California, a state with one of the most progressive laws on transgender rights in sports, now faces the same contentious debate that has divided states like Texas, Florida, and Idaho.
The Incident: Athletes Say “No”
At the heart of the controversy are two Jurupa Valley High School players-Alyssa McPherson and Hadeel Hazameh-who openly refused to compete with or share a locker room with a transgender teammate, identified in reports as AB Hernandez.
In a game against Greely High School, both girls chose to sit out entirely. Their reason was direct: they felt the situation was “unsafe and unfair” for female athletes. Speaking to local media, Hazameh emphasized that their decision was not driven by hate but by principle:
“I hope this encourages other young women to use their voice. We deserve fairness on the court and safety in the locker room.”
Their protest was not isolated. Within days, Riverside Poly High School forfeited a match against Jurupa Valley. Soon after, other schools-including Rim of the World High School and Orange Vista High School-also backed out of scheduled competitions against the team, reportedly due to Hernandez’s presence.
What began as an individual protest evolved into a mini-boycott across multiple schools.
School District Response: The Law vs. Community Sentiment
The Jurupa Unified School District (JUSD) quickly reaffirmed its compliance with California state law, which since 2013 has required schools to allow transgender students to participate in sports and activities consistent with their gender identity.
In an official statement, the district noted:
Transgender students are entitled to full inclusion under state law.
Schools must provide safe and supportive environments for all students.
Discrimination based on gender identity violates both California statutes and federal protections under Title IX.However, the community response has been divided. Parents of protesting athletes have expressed frustration, arguing that their daughters’ rights to safety and fairness were being sidelined. On the other hand, supporters of Hernandez-and LGBTQ+ advocates more broadly-condemned the forfeits and sit-outs as discriminatory and harmful to transgender youth.
Hernandez’s mother spoke out emotionally, calling the boycotts “devastating” for her child:
“AB just wants to play volleyball. This is their passion. To see entire teams refuse to show up is heartbreaking and sends a dangerous message about exclusion.”
California’s Legal Landscape: A Progressive Stronghold
California is unique in this debate because its laws are explicitly pro-inclusion. In 2013, Assembly Bill 1266 made California the first state in the U.S. to grant K-12 students the right to participate in sports and use facilities consistent with their gender identity.
In April 2025, the California legislature rejected multiple bills that aimed to restrict transgender girls from joining female sports. This positioned California opposite states like Florida and Idaho, which have passed “fairness in women’s sports” laws banning transgender athletes from competing in girls’ divisions.
For California, the policy is clear: transgender athletes are protected. But as this volleyball controversy shows, policy does not automatically translate into acceptance at the community level.
Transgender Athlete Sparks Major Rift in California Girls’ Volleyball
Title IX and the National Debate
The legal framework extends beyond California. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, designed to protect against sex discrimination in federally funded education, has become the legal battlefield for transgender athlete inclusion.
Supporters of inclusion argue Title IX requires schools to respect gender identity, ensuring equal opportunity for transgender students.
Opponents argue that allowing transgender girls in female sports undermines the intent of Title IX by placing biological males-who may have physical advantages-in direct competition with girls.This tension is now playing out nationwide, with lawsuits and policy reversals becoming common. The Biden administration has pushed for broader inclusion under Title IX, while several conservative-led states are challenging those interpretations.
Safety, Fairness, and Competitive Integrity
One of the strongest arguments from protesting players and parents is safety. Volleyball, though not a full-contact sport, involves fast-moving balls, powerful spikes, and close physical dynamics at the net. Some argue that biological differences-such as height, muscle mass, and reaction speed-could create risks for female players when competing alongside or against transgender athletes who were born male.
Another layer is fairness. Female athletes and advocacy groups such as Save Women’s Sports claim that allowing transgender girls to compete erodes hard-won opportunities for biological females. They point to physiological advantages that often persist even after hormone treatments.
On the flip side, LGBTQ+ advocates highlight that transgender youth already face higher rates of depression, bullying, and suicide. Excluding them from sports could worsen these outcomes. They argue that the number of transgender athletes is small and that fairness concerns are exaggerated for political purposes.
The Human Dimension: Voices from Both Sides
Athletes in protest:
Say they respect LGBTQ+ rights but feel their concerns are ignored.
Argue that objecting to inclusion is labeled as “hate speech,” silencing legitimate dialogue.
Believe state policies create “forced participation” that disregards biological realities.Supporters of transgender athletes:
Stress the importance of creating safe spaces for marginalized youth.
Note that sports are about more than winning-they’re about belonging, teamwork, and identity.
Warn that exclusionary practices set dangerous precedents for discrimination.This divide is not just legal-it’s deeply emotional, rooted in competing values of equity versus equality, rights versus fairness, and safety versus inclusion.
Media and Political Reactions
Conservative outlets such as Fox News amplified the story, framing it as proof of the dangers of progressive gender policies in schools. Headlines focused on “female athletes standing up for their rights.”
Progressive and LGBTQ+ platforms such as Them.us and advocacy groups condemned the forfeits, portraying them as targeted discrimination against a teenager simply trying to play volleyball.
Politicians have also begun weighing in. Some California conservatives are calling for renewed legislative efforts to “protect girls’ sports,” while progressive leaders defend California’s existing laws as a model for the nation.
Broader Implications for School Sports
This incident reveals several key dynamics:
1. Grassroots Pushback: Even in progressive states, local communities may resist inclusive policies when applied in real situations.
2. School vs. State Tension: Districts are legally bound to follow the law but must also manage parent backlash and student protests.
3. Potential for Escalation: If more schools forfeit games, entire league schedules could be disrupted. This could push the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) to take disciplinary or regulatory action.
4. National Ripple Effect: California often sets precedents. If inclusive policies face widespread grassroots resistance here, it could influence debates across the country.
Expert Perspectives
Sports Scientists: Studies indicate transgender women may retain physical advantages even after hormone therapy, particularly in sports requiring strength and speed. However, research specific to youth and high school levels remains limited.
Psychologists: Exclusion can have severe mental health consequences for transgender teens, who already face disproportionate challenges.
Legal Experts: California’s laws are unlikely to change soon, but if school forfeits spread, lawsuits could emerge from either side-parents of cisgender athletes claiming unfair treatment or parents of transgender athletes citing discrimination.The Bigger Picture: Culture Wars in High School Gyms
What makes this story so resonant is not just the volleyball games being forfeited-it’s what they symbolize. High school sports have become a microcosm of America’s broader culture wars:
Gender identity debates.
LGBTQ+ rights versus traditional gender roles.
Progressive state laws versus conservative backlash.
Each side sees themselves as protecting something fundamental—either the dignity and rights of transgender youth or the integrity and safety of women’s sports.
Where Do We Go From Here?
The Jurupa Valley volleyball controversy highlights the complex crossroads where law, identity, fairness, and community values collide. California’s inclusive legal framework ensures transgender students like AB Hernandez can play. But the refusal of teammates and rival schools to participate reveals a deeper divide that laws alone cannot resolve.
The path forward may require:
Dialogue between athletes, parents, and school officials.
Research to better understand the impacts of transgender participation on fairness and safety in youth sports.
Policies that balance inclusion with concerns of competitive integrity.
Empathy-recognizing that all students, cisgender or transgender, seek dignity, belonging, and opportunity.Until then, California’s volleyball courts will remain more than athletic spaces-they are now stages where the nation’s cultural conflicts play out, point by point, serve by serve.
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