AB Hernandez speaks out after Trump’s row

Trans teen athlete AB Hernandez has spoken out about the national furore over her participation at her high school’s track and field events. 

Hernandez, who has reportedly been on her high school’s track team for three years, has been the focus of several protest held outside of her high school in Jurupa Valley, California. 

The high school junior was even targeted by US president Donald Trump in a statement posted to Truth Social on 27 May after she had qualified for the California Interscholastic Federation State Track and Field Champions. 

Trump claimed on Truth Social on that a “transitioned male athlete” who “is practically unbeatable” qualified for the finals. He went on to call the circumstances “totally demeaning to women and girls” and threatened that federal funding could be cut off, “maybe permanently”, if his anti-trans executive order is not followed.

@pinknews Trans teen athlete AB Hernandez has spoken out about the backlash she’s received due to her participation at her high school’s track and field events. Hernandez, who has reportedly been on her high school’s track team for three years, has been the focus of several protests held outside of her high school in Jurupa Valley, California. The high school junior was even targeted by Donald Trump in a statement posted to Truth Social on May 27th after she qualified for the California Interscholastic Federation State Track & Field Championships. In the post, Trump also threatened to cut California’s federal funding if Hernandez was allowed to compete in the State Finals, which were held on May 31st. In response, California officials tweaked the rules to expand the number of cisgender girls who could qualify if a trans athlete was participating. California has for more than a decade allowed trans girls to participate in girls’ sports, but under the new pilot rules, cisgender girls who would have qualified for the state championship if they hadn’t lost to a trans girl could still advance. The new rules also stated that cis girls would also win the highest medals even if they are beaten by a trans girl. Now, after winning multiple medals at the state championships, Hernandez has responded to the media storm surrounding her participation. Speaking to local news station KCRA 3, Hernandez said “It’s definitely crazy. I mean, I get a lot of hate comments but, like, I don’t care. Like, 16 year old girl with a mad attitude, like you think I’m gonna care?” #transgender #protecttranskids #donaldtrump #womenssports #trackandfield #lgbtqia ♬ The Champion – Lux-Inspira

In the hours following Trump’s funding threat, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) announced it would launch a new “pilot entry process” for the CIF State Championships, which took place 30-31 May. 

The new policy states that cisgender athletes who narrowly missed out on qualifying for the event, due to the alleged inclusion of a transgender athlete, are now offered the chance to compete.

Now, after winning multiple medals at the state championships, Hernandez has responded to the media storm surrounding her participation. 

Speaking to local news station KCRA 3, Hernandez said: “It’s definitely crazy. I mean, I get a lot of hate comments but, like, I don’t care. Like, [I’m a] 16-year-old girl with mad attitude, like you think I’m gonna care?” 

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