Trump Warns of "Cutting Federal Funding" Before Competition
US Department of Justice to Investigate Possible Violation of Anti-Discrimination Laws
As cases of transgender athletes who have transitioned from male to female sweeping medals in women's sports continue to spark controversy, a transgender high school track and field athlete has found herself at the center of debate after winning a competition held in California, USA. The issue has gained nationwide attention, especially after President Donald Trump, who has intensified his attacks on transgender individuals since his presidential campaign days to rally his base, joined the debate.
According to the Associated Press and The New York Times on June 1 (local time), AB Hernandez, a transgender third-year student at Jurupa Valley High School in southern California, won first place in the girls' high jump and triple jump and second place in the long jump at the state high school track and field championships held at a high school near Fresno, a city in the south-central part of the state, on May 31.
Hernandez’s victory has reignited controversy over the perceived unfairness of competition between transgender athletes, who were born male and are considered to have inherent physical advantages, and female athletes. While this is not the first time a transgender athlete has won in the United States, Hernandez’s victory has become a nationwide issue after President Donald Trump criticized the result and the federal government also became involved.
California law, enacted in 2013, allows students to compete in divisions that match their gender identity. However, as criticism has grown?reaching even the president?over the participation of athletes who have transitioned from male to female in women's competitions, the event organizer, the California Interscholastic Federation, introduced new rules earlier this week.
The new regulations allowed one additional athlete to participate in the events Hernandez entered and to receive medals. The rules also stipulated that other athletes would be recognized for their rankings as if Hernandez had not competed. As a result, although Hernandez finished first in both the high jump and triple jump, she became a co-champion at the awards ceremony. In the high jump, Hernandez cleared 5 feet 7 inches (about 170 cm) without a miss. Two other athletes also cleared the same height but each had at least one failed attempt.
Nevertheless, Hernandez and these two athletes stood together at the top of the podium. The federation recognized Hernandez’s record but also acknowledged the next-best athletes as co-champions. In the triple jump, Hernandez was the sole winner based on her record, but at the awards ceremony, she was named co-champion alongside the runner-up.
During the two-day event, some critics wore pink bracelets and T-shirts bearing the phrase "Save Women's Sports," and an airplane flew over the stadium with a banner reading "No Men in Women's Sports."
Before the competition, President Trump warned California that federal funding would be cut if the state did not ban transgender students from participating. He also recently issued an executive order prohibiting individuals assigned male at birth from participating in women’s sports. President Trump stressed, "This measure applies to all school sports receiving federal funding and will effectively end unfair competition against female athletes."
The U.S. Department of Justice also plans to investigate whether the federation and the school district to which Hernandez belongs have violated federal anti-discrimination laws. In response, the federation stated, "We respect all student-athletes," and added, "We will continue to uphold and comply with state law, which is based on the mission of providing students with a sense of belonging, solidarity, and opportunities for competition."
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