Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Exclusive Report: A group of three female athletes in Southern California is taking legal action against the California Interscholastic Federation, the California Department of Education, and the Jurupa Unified School District over the participation of a transgender student on the Jurupa Valley High School girls’ volleyball team.
The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The plaintiffs allege they have experienced discrimination based on sex, situations of sexual harassment, and unsafe athletic environments due to the inclusion of a biological male transgender athlete on their team.
The young women involved in this case include current players Alyssa McPherson and Hadeel Hazameh, as well as Alyssa’s sister, former player Madison McPherson, along with their families. Recently, Hazameh and Alyssa McPherson opted to withdraw from the volleyball team to protest the presence of the transgender athlete.
The lawsuit alleges that the two girls were removed from team communications after expressing discomfort about sharing the volleyball court and locker rooms with a male student. Furthermore, the plaintiffs argue that their religious beliefs have not been respected under the current circumstances.
According to court documents, the lawsuit states that the young women have felt intimidated by a hostile environment stemming from the actions of school officials. They claim they were bullied into suppressing their objections to competing alongside a transgender athlete and sharing private spaces with them.
The McPherson family, who openly identifies as practicing Catholics, contends that their faith influences their belief that God created humans as distinctly male and female. They assert that gender is an immutable characteristic, and such views underpin their understanding of identity and the significance of recognizing biological differences.
Hazameh’s family describes themselves as practicing Muslims, and they articulate that their religious obligations require modesty, which impacts interactions with males. They emphasize the importance of recognizing and maintaining the distinctions between male and female roles and responsibilities.
The lawsuit is seeking monetary damages and requests the removal of the transgender athlete, AB Hernandez, from the team. The plaintiffs argue that Hernandez’s inclusion has prompted four other schools to forfeit matches against Jurupa Valley this season, raising significant scrutiny nationally.
Both Hazameh and Alyssa McPherson have played alongside Hernandez throughout their volleyball careers. Madison McPherson has been a former teammate as well.
This season began amid controversy as Hernandez, during the previous spring, claimed two girls’ state championships in track and field. The following meets drew protests from female athletes and their families wearing “Save Girls Sports” shirts.
In the lead-up to Hernandez’s championship victories, former President Donald Trump criticized California officials and Governor Gavin Newsom for allowing a transgender athlete to compete in state finals. In response, the California Interscholastic Federation modified its policies to reward any female athletes who finished behind Hernandez, yet they still permitted the transgender athlete to compete and secure wins in girls’ high jump and triple jump, along with a second place in long jump.
A separate legal action initiated by the Department of Justice is ongoing against the California Department of Education and the CIF, concerning the policies permitting biological males to compete in girls’ sports, despite a recent executive order from Trump aimed at prohibiting such involvement.
Fox News Digital has reached out for comments from the California Department of Education, CIF, and Jurupa Unified School District regarding the lawsuit initiated by the McPherson and Hazameh families. However, these organizations have not yet responded to inquiries.
In prior statements, Jurupa Unified officials suggested that the controversy surrounding Hernandez should not be directed at the district itself but rather at the government officials responsible for creating and enforcing these policies. They articulated that, as public agencies receiving state funding, they are bound to adhere to existing laws.
Furthermore, they expressed empathy for students affected by these legal and policy challenges, affirming their commitment to uphold laws that prohibit discrimination based on various characteristics, including gender identity and sexual orientation.
A recent bipartisan survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California revealed that a substantial majority of Californians oppose allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports. In fact, over 70% of parents within the state’s educational system echoed this sentiment.
The data indicates that a significant majority of adults (65%) and likely voters (64%) favor regulations requiring transgender athletes to compete on teams that align with the sex assigned to them at birth, suggesting a lack of support for the current inclusion policies.
Insight on a Growing Controversy: As the debate surrounding transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports continues to gain traction, especially in California, the intersection of legal rights, religious beliefs, and gender identity remains a complex and contentious issue. This lawsuit reflects broader concerns regarding fairness in competitive sports and the implications for young women athletes.
