Transgender Athlete Sparks National Debate at California Track Championships

California's track and field championships are currently embroiled in controversy. At the center is Abby Hernandez, a transgender junior from Riverside County, whose participation has sparked national attention. President Trump weighed in, suggesting federal funding could be withheld from California if they don't adhere to his executive order banning transgender women from women's sports. The Department of Justice has also launched an investigation into California's policy. Alyssa Goard, reporting from Clovis, captured the scene, which included protests outside the stadium with signs reading "Save Girls Sports." One protestor, Vanoush Khatchaturyan, a Clovis resident, stated, "We have junior varsity and varsity for a reason. We have girls and boys for a reason." Conversely, Antonia Currington, head track and field coach at Oakland Tech, commented on the protests, "You can disagree with the participation, but you don't have to call and be rude at the person participating in the sport." Despite the protests, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) recently announced a rule change: if a transgender athlete medals, any biological female athletes knocked off the podium will also receive a medal.