Three high school girls from Jurupa Valley, California, have filed a federal lawsuit alleging that school and state officials violated their rights by allowing a male to compete in girls’ sports and access female locker rooms.
Filed earlier this month by Advocates for Faith & Freedom, the lawsuit names the California Department of Education, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), and the Jurupa Unified School District as defendants. It claims violations of Title IX, the Equal Protection Clause, and the First Amendment, arguing that female athletes’ privacy, safety, and opportunities were compromised.
According to the complaint, administrators ignored multiple reports of harassment, including “butt tapping,” lewd remarks, and inappropriate physical contact while disciplining girls who voiced discomfort. The biological male, identified as A.B. Hernandez, competed on the school’s volleyball and track teams and was granted access to girls’ locker rooms.
Hadeel Hazame said the situation directly conflicted with her religious beliefs. “As a hijabi, I’m not allowed to change in front of males,” she explained. When she asked for accommodation, school officials told her to use the nurse’s office. “I asked, ‘What if every girl requested that?’ and they said they’d have to accommodate everyone,” she said. “That didn’t make sense to me,” she said, expressing that the school shouldn’t have to accommodate women and should address the real issue.
Hazama also described feeling pressured to stay silent even when the male athlete had put his hands on the athletes’ butts. “I feel embarrassed to admit this, but I genuinely felt brainwashed,” she said, questioning why she allowed him to touch her and not say something sooner. “I let them silence me. I’m glad I can speak up now.”
Madison McPherson, now a collegiate volleyball player, said she lost numerous track events after A.B. joined the girls’ team. “I used to win sometimes, but once A.B. joined, I lost most of my events,” she said. Madison said she was accused of harassment after agreeing with a teammate who voiced concerns about fairness. Shortly after, A.B. allegedly posted videos mocking her and displaying medals. During Madison’s junior year, she missed qualifying for CIF because A.B. outranked her. Consequently, she decided not to compete in track her senior year.
Her sister, Alyssa McPherson, said she was removed from the varsity volleyball group chats after telling her coach she could not participate in practices or games that included a male athlete. She also described an uncomfortable interaction during practice. After diving for a ball and mentioning she was sore, the male athlete responded, “It hurts my boobs too.”
“I had no words,” Alyssa said. “Everyone went silent.” The unspoken truth that males don’t have female anatomy filled the room with an awkward silence.
Supporting the girls is Jessica Tapia, Public Relations Advocate at Advocates for Faith & Freedom. Tapia, a former Jurupa Valley High School PE teacher, was fired in 2023 for refusing to comply with transgender policies she said violated her Christian convictions. After winning a legal settlement, she joined Advocates to help others stand for their beliefs.
“God really brought my story full circle,” Tapia said. “I was fired from this same district for standing for truth. Now, I get to stand with these girls as they fight for fairness and faith. As a mom, it gives me hope for my daughters and their future in sports.”
The lawsuit seeks not only damages but also a court injunction preventing male students from competing on female sports teams in Jurupa Unified. Advocates for Faith & Freedom argue the case is about restoring fairness and protecting girls’ rights in the face of growing political pressure.
You can learn more by hearing directly from the girls on Episode 59 of the This Is a Woman podcast, hosted by Sophia Lorey.
