Ted Cruz reacts after viral photo shows crowd taunting girls protesting trans athlete AB Hernandez | International Sports News

AB Hernandez, a transgender volleyball player at Jurupa Valley High School in California, has become the focus of national scrutiny after a viral image surfaced. The photo depicts two women making gestures towards a group of teenage girls protesting Hernandez’s participation in girls’ sports. In response, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz condemned the women’s actions, claiming such behavior toward minors was “dark and wrong.”

The protest took place during a recent volleyball game. The girls wore shirts stating “Save Girls’ Sports” while the two women reportedly mocked them. Sophia Lorey, outreach director at California Family Council, who attended the game, first shared the image, prompting further discussions on the issue.

Jurupa Valley High has faced criticism this season, with eight schools forfeiting matches to avoid competing against Hernandez. The latest forfeit occurred on September 26 when Patriot High School opted out of their scheduled game. Jurupa Valley has acknowledged the difficulty in finding teams willing to play against them.

Additionally, former players Hadeel Hazameh and Alyssa McPherson have filed a lawsuit against the Jurupa Unified School District, claiming they were compelled to share locker room facilities with Hernandez and felt unsafe as a result. They allege incidents of sexual harassment involving Hernandez, which the player’s family has denied.

The situation has escalated to a national level, with the U.S. Department of Justice suing the California Interscholastic Federation and state Department of Education over related policies.