Seven California high school volleyball teams refuse to play against transgender athlete

In California, seven girls high school volleyball teams forfeited matches against Jurupa Valley High School due to the presence of a transgender player. The recent forfeits are a result of ongoing tensions that escalated following a lawsuit filed on September 9, 2023, by three current and former players of Jurupa Valley. The lawsuit claims that the school district and state agencies allowed a male player to join the girls’ team, which has raised significant concerns among some players regarding their comfort and safety in sharing facilities with a transgender individual. The schools that forfeited games include Riverside Poly High School, Rim of the World High School, Orange Vista High School, AB Miller High School, Aquinas High School, Yucaipa High School, and San Dimas High School. The situation around Jurupa Valley High escalated when it became public that two of the girls, Alyssa McPherson and Hadeel Hazameh, left the team because of their discomfort, citing religious principles that emphasize modesty and gender distinctions. The lawsuit alleges that they felt bullied and intimidated by school officials when voicing their objections to the inclusion of a transgender player. Jurupa Valley was awarded wins by forfeit, including a notable case on September 13 when Yucaipa High School chose not to take the court in a scheduled match. The legal action has sparked a wider debate in California on the rights of transgender athletes and the implications for other students, with various parties weighing in on the issue. The California Interscholastic Federation, which oversees high school sports in the state, and the California Department of Education have remained quiet on the matter in light of the ongoing litigation. California Governor Gavin Newsom's office has emphasized that it is the responsibility of the CIF, CDE, and the legislature to address these concerns, stating that the current laws governing transgender participation in sports were established in 2013. Both supporters and detractors of the existing laws have called for more dialogue regarding the inclusion of transgender athletes in gender-segregated sports, causing a rift among students, parents, and school officials in the state.