18 Comments
User's avatar
Ellie Swimmer's avatar

Having just read the story of the kids opposing AB Hernandez, it’s shocking the intense pressure on these brave kids simply because the adults are cowards. Our political leaders have allowed the weight of this nonsense to fall on the shoulders of teen girls. It’ll make them stronger but it’s a disgrace.

Sarah Barker's avatar

Very noticeable: how very easy it was for girls to just smile and clap and be kind.

Anne Martinez's avatar

This was the idea all along.

Former Dem's avatar

They're told that if the boy does something to himself because he's not allowed on the girls' teams, it will be their fault. That's some powerful gaslighting.

Susan's avatar

Just saw a tweet from HeCheated.org:

>>"AB" Hernandez finished the season ranked #4 in the entire nation compared to girls in the triple jump.

>>Compared to other boys, he was tied for #3,053 with 15 other boys.

Sarah Barker's avatar

Media can call him a trans girl. CIF can continue to violate and humiliate girls. Tom Steyer can be as proud of Hernandez as his broken self will allow. Nothing changes the fact that he is male, and his performances serve as a glowing, irrefutable evidence of why sports are classified by sex

Anne Martinez's avatar

I do find it disappointing that so many opponents have to base their objections on being Christian. Someone being Christian or not doesn't change the reality of sex.

Mac's avatar

Anne, I totally agree. I'm so proud of this young lady. She is so brave and smart. You know she is getting some serious hate online and in person and I worry for her. And I, an atheist, completely agree with her on this issue. Not because of Adam and Eve, a story I consider allegorical, but because of biology, and the safety and dignity of girls. It's all hands on deck on this one.

Winifred Greenhalgh's avatar

I totally agree. It's just the common sense truth that men are not women and girls and women don't want men in our spaces. That's enough of a justification.

Stosh Wychulus's avatar

It is appalling that alleged grownups and political leaders are putting this burden onto young girls , and seem to be incapable of being embarrased or shamed. How do they even show their faces? Unfortunately , there's no way to revoke someone's "adult" status, but they should be called out by name.

The trans maids in Bay Area MSM still praise Hernandez for his "courage" in competing while being attacked. So F'**** noble of him.

Sarah Barker's avatar

In this case, New Richmond parents were out in full force, talking at the school board meeting, supporting the girls. As Ella pointed out, the decision to allow the one male student to use the girls' bathroom was pushed through by one gender zealot on the school board, and a tiny but very loud percent of students/parents arguing that girls need to "be kind." This is very definitely not California. But it is an illustration of what Helen Joyce has described, where one committed ideologue infects an entire organization, in this case, the school board. Even though they don't believe this boy is a girl, average citizens, average school board members, are afraid of being labeled a bigot or hateful or unkind. They don't have the tools to resist this kind of coercion

Stosh Wychulus's avatar

authoritarian systems work by creating a sufficient climate of fear so that people police themselves. It really is about ruling by fear. In SF, it is political suicide to even question the trans plague. Unfortunately , she has not run a good campaign and there’s no way she has a chance and it would be a wasted vote. . i’ll support Chan and then see what we can do if she is in the general with Weiner. There is actually the possibility of doing something there if it’s the two of them. If it’s Chakribarti ,it’s difficult to know who’s the lesser of the two evils. And it’s not homophobia, it’s the trans cult that holds the city hostage.

https://missionlocal.org/2026/05/sf-marie-hurabiell-connectedsf-homophobia/

Sam N's avatar

I appreciate the closing sentiment - that she didn't want her peer, the boy, pushed out of school. She just wanted him to use a toilet away from the girls.

Sarah Barker's avatar

I did too! None of this is "anti-trans"! The only way to respect the privacy of both boys and girls is to respect the reality of sex.

J. H.'s avatar

Ella, you are an amazing 17 year old!

Thank you for speaking up.

John Stuart Hughes's avatar

Ella is a courageous young woman! Thank you for interviewing her.

Cynthia's avatar

Sarah, I’ve been reading The Female Category and really appreciate how clearly you’re documenting what’s happening in women’s sports, it’s sharp, unapologetic, and needed.

From the outside, it looks like you’ve built a strong niche and loyal readership, but there’s probably room to make the content + visibility side more structured and sustainable so your work can reach even more of the right people (without watering it down).

That’s the kind of thing I help women‑led, impact‑driven brands with. If you’re ever open to jamming on that, you can grab a time here: https://cal.com/cynthia-odinaka32.