The post referenced AB Hernandez, a trans athlete who is scheduled to compete in the girls varsity triple jump, high jump and long jump in the state finals.
“THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Gavin Newsom recently said on his podcast that it’s “deeply unfair” for transgender girls to participate in girls sports.
Boys don’t belong in girls sports.” Democratic state lawmakers blocked bills last month that would have barred transgender girls from participating in girls sports.
Athletes’ and district’s responses Parents and conservative advocates opposed to transgender girls competing in girls sports have criticized Hernandez’s participation and heckled her during postseason meets.
Amid controversy surrounding the participation of a trans student-athlete, the California high school sports governing board is modifying the competition rules for this weekend’s state track and field championships to facilitate the participation of more girls.
The California Interscholastic Federation announced that it was expanding the number of “biological female” athletes who could compete in the championship meet. The organization made the announcement on Tuesday in response to a social media post by President Donald Trump regarding a transgender athlete competing.
According to a statement from the federation, “an opportunity to compete in the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships was extended to any biological female student-athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark for one of their Section’s automatic qualifying entries in the CIF State meet, but did not achieve the CIF State at-large mark in the finals at their Section meet.”. According to the CIF, this pilot entry procedure provides the opportunities for participation that we aim to provide to our student-athletes. “.”.
In the midst of a national struggle for transgender youth rights, states have prohibited transgender girls from playing on girls’ teams, prohibited minors from having gender-affirming surgeries, and mandated that parents be informed if their child switches pronouns at school. Transgender women and girls are prohibited from competing in specific sports by law in at least 24 states. In court, some of the policies have been blocked.
According to a recent AP-NORC poll, roughly 70% of U. S. Adults believe that transgender female athletes shouldn’t be permitted to play women’s sports in high school, college, or the professional ranks. Roughly half of Democrats and nine out of ten Republicans agreed.
Whether the change is applicable to all events or just those where a trans athlete has advanced to the final was not made clear by the federation. The competition this weekend is the only one affected. How many students will be impacted by the change was not disclosed by the organization.
It is possible that this rule change is the first attempt by a high school sports governing body in the country to increase competition for trans athletes.
Trump’s threat to cut off federal funding.
Trump said Tuesday that if California did not prohibit trans students from playing girls’ sports, federal funding would be withheld. The post mentioned transgender athlete AB Hernandez, who will compete in the state finals for the girls varsity triple jump, high jump, and long jump. On May 19, she placed seventh in the high jump and won the Division 3 girls long and triple jump at the Southern Section Division Finals, according to CIF results.
On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS.”.
In addition, Trump attacked the Democratic governor of Maine after she threatened to sue the president for his attempt to prevent transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports.
An investigation into a California law that prohibits districts from requiring teachers and staff to inform parents if a student changes their gender identity while attending school was started by the Trump administration earlier this year.
Newsom is all for change.
Governor of California. Recently, Gavin Newsom stated on his podcast that transgender girls’ participation in girls’ sports is “deeply unfair.”. When he questioned Newsom about the matter, conservative pundit and podcast guest Charlie Kirk brought up Hernandez.
Trump stated that he would discuss it with Newsom on Tuesday. Although the governor’s office did not confirm the call, they did say that the California Interscholastic Federation rule change was a “thoughtful approach.”. “”.
According to Newsom’s spokesperson Izzy Gardon, “CIF’s proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness — a model worth pursuing.”.
The conservative California Family Council’s Sophia Lorey, who has opposed Hernandez playing girls’ sports, called the rule change “damage control.”. “”.
Lorey said, “Girls who were wrongfully eliminated are suddenly back in for State this weekend.”. “This is a positive step, but let’s face it, this should never have occurred. Boys have no place in girls’ sports. “.”.
Bills that would have prohibited transgender girls from playing girls’ sports were blocked by Democratic state lawmakers last month.
The Trump administration was accused of “bullying a child” by LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality California, which urged CIF to maintain its “inclusive, evidence-based policies.”. “”.
“Our community is watching, and we are counting on the CIF to protect its athletes, follow California law, uphold its policies, and reaffirm that everyone deserves to compete safely and authentically,” the group said in a statement released in conjunction with a number of other organizations.
Responses from the district and athletes.
Hernandez’s participation has been criticized and she has been heckled at postseason meets by conservative activists and parents who oppose transgender girls playing girls’ sports.
Student Katie McGuinness urged the CIF to change its policy in an interview on Fox News after losing to Hernandez in the long jump at the sectional final.
McGuinness stated, “I have nothing against the trans community or this athlete as a person.”. My message today is aimed specifically at CIF, asking them to take prompt action because this is a very urgent matter. “”.
Hernandez is focused on what she can control because, in response to verbal abuse from adults, she told the newspaper Capital and Main earlier this month that “there’s nothing I can do about people’s actions.”.
“You’re an adult, and I’m still a child, so your childlike behavior reflects who you are as a person,” she remarked.
Hernandez’s mother declined to comment on the rule change on Tuesday in an email.
Hernandez’s high school in Southern California is part of the Jurupa Unified School District, which declared it would uphold state law permitting trans student-athletes to play on teams that correspond with their gender identity.
