California Volleyball Match Sparks Controversy
A California high school volleyball game ignited heated debate when Riverside Poly High forfeited rather than play against a team with a transgender athlete.
Jurupa Valley High’s girls’ squad, which includes trans player AB Hernandez, was scheduled to face Riverside Poly on August 15. Instead, Riverside Poly pulled out. The school later called the decision “disappointing,” but argued it was about ensuring a “safe, positive environment for all student-athletes.”
Parents quickly told local media the forfeit was tied directly to Hernandez’s participation. They claimed the decision came from school officials—not the student players.