Key Takeaways
- Senator Ted Cruz condemned women accused of jeering girls protesting a transgender volleyball player
- Eight schools have forfeited matches against Jurupa Valley High School
- Former players have filed lawsuits alleging discrimination and harassment
- The case has sparked national debate over transgender athlete policies
Senator Ted Cruz has publicly condemned two California women accused of making explicit gestures toward teenage girls protesting against a transgender volleyball player. The incident occurred during a high school playoff game that has since sparked multiple lawsuits and widespread controversy.
The Texas Republican shared a photo on X showing the women apparently jeering students wearing ‘Save Girls’ Sports’ shirts. ‘If you do this to little girls, your heart has turned entirely dark,’ Cruz wrote in his Friday post.
Game Protests and Legal Action
The controversial match between Jurupa Valley High School and Valencia High School featured Jurupa Valley’s transgender player, AB Hernandez. While Jurupa Valley lost in straight sets, the game was overshadowed by protests inside the gym.
Two former Jurupa Valley players, Hadeel Hazameh and Alyssa McPherson, were among protesters holding signs after leaving the team in September. Both have since filed a lawsuit against the Jurupa Unified School District.
The legal filing alleges the girls were forced to share courts and locker rooms with a biological male and accuses Hernandez of sexual harassment during practices and games. ‘Beyond the locker room, A.H. engaged in unwelcomed and offensive contact, including slapping and/or placing his hands on female players’ buttocks,’ the lawsuit states.
Denials and Growing Boycott
Hernandez’s mother has strongly denied all allegations, telling the East Bay Times the lawsuit contains ‘defamation, false claims, fabricated evidence, harassment and perjury.’ She did not provide specific examples to counter the claims.
The controversy has severely disrupted Jurupa Valley’s volleyball season, with eight schools now forfeiting scheduled matches rather than face the team. Patriot High School became the latest to forfeit in late September.
Jurupa Valley confirmed the forfeiture in a statement to Fox News: ‘We can confirm the Patriot High School volleyball team will forfeit their September 26 match.’ The repeated cancellations have left the team struggling to find opponents.
National Implications
Three current and former players have launched legal action through Advocates for Faith & Freedom. Their attorney stated: ‘Girls’ sports are for girls. No policy can erase the biological differences between males and females.’
Fox News reported that at least one Valencia player refused to take the court during the playoff game to avoid competing against Hernandez.
The case has gained national significance as the U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the California Interscholastic Federation and state Department of Education over transgender eligibility policies. The federal case cites California’s refusal to comply with former President Donald Trump’s ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’ executive order.
