President Trump possibly to withhold funds over a trans athlete in California in state finals
JURUPA VALLEY, Calif. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - President Trump says he will withhold funds over a California high school trans athlete who made the state finals in Track and Field.
On Tuesday, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) released a statement saying additional competitors will be placed in certain events due to the presence of a transgender girl athlete who qualified for the May 30-31 state championship meet.
The transgender student, junior AB Hernandez, who attends Jurupa Valley High School, won the girls' long jump and triple jump during the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet over the weekend.
CIF's rule change means that competitors who lost a slot at the state meet because of her success can now participate.
The change came hours after President Trump criticized the state for allowing trans women to compete in women's sports and specifically cited the trans high school athlete.
In a social media post Tuesday, the president said he will withhold federal funding for California because the state "continues to illegally allow men to play in women's sports."
California is one of 22 states that has laws allowing trans students to participate in sports consisted with their gender identity.
Students at Jurupa Valley High School shared their reaction to Trump's threats to withhold funds.
"I don't like how President Trump right now is just singling out my school though. I think President Trump has a lot on his plate as the President of the United States and I don't think trans athletes should be his top priority, espcially with our economy right now.
I do see the problem. I'm not ignorant. I see the problem with not seeing, being ignorant to how trans athletes have advantages. But I think if a complete ban happened, it would just be as an excuse for just more transphobia.
You can't just be a man running in a woman's sport. You're always gonna win. It's just an advantage."
Alexander Castander, student
"These students identities matter to them. Their mental health is affected by what other people think about them as well. So him going and doing this, I think it's really affecting them and it's unfair to them," said Angelina Carreon, another student.
"I think that if you are identified as a female you should be able to just play a sport. Be comfortable. If that's what you want to do, especially when you're young and in high school, I think that you should just let them be them," said Olivia Vlach, another student.
