AB Hernandez: A Teen Athlete Caught in the Eye of a Political Storm
Let’s talk about something that’s really been making headlines lately—an intense and emotional story surrounding a 17-year-old transgender athlete named AB Hernandez in California. Now, this isn’t just about sports anymore. This has become a national conversation about identity, fairness, and politics. And AB? She’s right in the center of it.
AB Hernandez is a high school track and field star who has qualified to compete at California’s prestigious state championships. She’s a transgender girl, meaning she was assigned male at birth but identifies and lives as female. She’s been excelling in events like the long jump and triple jump, and by all athletic standards, she’s a top contender. But her participation has triggered a political firestorm—especially from former President Donald Trump.
Trump has been extremely vocal, calling for California to block her from competing altogether. He’s even threatened to cut off federal funding if the state doesn’t comply with his executive order that bans transgender girls from competing in girls’ sports. He claimed, in all caps on social media, that this is “TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS.”
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The backlash has been fierce and personal. A plane flew over the stadium trailing a banner that said, “No boys in girls’ sports.” Protesters lined up outside the competition. And AB’s mother, Nereyda Hernandez, has been right there beside her daughter, fiercely defending her. She fired back at Trump in an emotional Instagram post, accusing him of weaponizing religion and politics to hurt a teenager. She wrote, “My child is not a threat; SHE IS LIGHT!” That’s powerful.
But the debate doesn’t end there. Some parents and local officials argue that transgender inclusion creates unfair advantages. School board president Sonja Shaw insisted it’s “absolutely not” overblown, saying girls can’t win under current rules. Yet others, including activists and many students at AB’s school, say that being transgender doesn’t automatically mean you’re unbeatable—pointing out that elite athletes come in all shapes and abilities.
To manage the rising tension, the California Interscholastic Federation made a surprising decision: they’re allowing additional cisgender girls into the competition and are even considering awarding two winners if AB takes first place. That’s how complicated and sensitive this has become.
It’s easy to see how deeply divided the country still is on this issue. On one side, you have those championing inclusion and equal rights for trans youth. On the other, people worried about competitive fairness in women’s sports. And caught between those two extremes is a teenager who just wants to compete, be herself, and chase her dreams—like any other young athlete.
This story is far from over. But no matter where you stand, one thing is clear: we’re not just talking about a track meet. We’re talking about who gets to belong, who gets to dream, and whether we can find a way to respect everyone’s identity without compromising fairness and integrity in sports. And for AB Hernandez, this moment is much bigger than medals—it’s about visibility, dignity, and the fight to be accepted.
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