Two years after NCAA swimming faced controversy over the inclusion of a biological male who identifies as transgender in women's competition, college volleyball is now embroiled in a nearly similar controversy. There is. This year, five teams canceled their games instead of playing against San Jose State University's women's volleyball team. That team also includes Blair Fleming, a transgender player who is biologically male but competed as a woman and led the Spartans to an 11-win record. They are 3rd overall in the Mountain West Conference with a record of 7 wins and 3 losses. The most recent team to be forfeited was Nevada, whose players said they would “refuse to participate in any game that promotes injustice against female athletes.” Although the vote not to participate was not unanimous, Nevada co-captain Thea Lilley said the team is united. Video of Fleming's high-speed spike went viral on social media.
“How many young women have to get beaten up or watch their friends get beaten up for seeking opportunities from men before they have had enough?” He asked this question in order to support him. nevada sportsnet. “Men cannot participate in women's sports. If you were born a man, you cannot participate in women's sports.”
Southern Utah, Boise State, Wyoming and Utah State also had their games forfeited.
Fleming, a transfer from Coastal Carolina, leads the team in kills and points. In fact, Fleming's athletic ability was so impressive that teammate Brooke Slusser joined the team. lawsuit Opposed to the NCAA allowing biological males to participate in women's sports and use women's locker rooms.
Slusser, co-captain and assist leader for San Jose State's team, claims in the lawsuit that he transferred from the University of Alabama to San Jose State in 2023 without knowing about the controversy.
“Brooke was surprised to learn that Fleming was a man, which was consistent with Brooke's observation that Fleming played volleyball with more jumping and power than the girls on the team,” the lawsuit states. It is written.
“I witnessed multiple female players in practice and on opposing teams hit their heads because they were unable to react to the speed of the male players' spikes,” said another friend of Slusser's on the court. easy Say.
🚨🚨SJSU men's player Blair Fleming delivers a blow that knocks another women's opponent to the ground in tonight's game against the University of New Mexico.
Sorry to all the ladies @UNMLobo We were dominated by a male-led team, but tonight's game was neither fair nor safe. @NCAA… pic.twitter.com/seKmx7TXMa
— Beth Bourne (@bourne_beth2345) October 18, 2024
In addition, Ms. Slusser was “encouraged by the coaching staff to live in an apartment with a man and two girls” and was “assigned to a room with a man on road trips,” all while she was under Fleming's care. I didn't know my biological sex.
“While I did not want Fleming to be bullied, I have questions about whether it would be safe or fair for Fleming to remain on the SJSU women's volleyball team, for the other women on the team and for the opposing team,” Slusser wrote to Fleming. “I felt uncomfortable,” he said. Fleming ended up competing on the women’s team,” the lawsuit states.
San Jose State's final regular season game is scheduled for Nov. 21 against Boise State, which previously forfeited the game.
The majority of the Nevada volleyball team voted to forfeit its Oct. 26 game against San Jose State University in California. Blair Fleming, a biological male volleyball player at San Jose State University, is having a near-undefeated season.
The organization completely ignored the girls. we must protect… pic.twitter.com/TtLCfaqV0k— Joey Gilbert (@joeygilbertinc) October 30, 2024
In 2022, Leah Thomas, a biological male from the University of Pennsylvania, won the women's 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA Swimming Championships, sparking rule changes across the sport.
The issue of trans athletes has also affected the US presidential election, with Republican candidate Donald Trump running a campaign ad against Democrat Kamala Harris for supporting biological males in women's sports. . President Trump opposes male participation in women's sports, citing issues of fairness and safety.
Photo provided by: ©Instagram/Blair Fleming
michael faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His articles have appeared in the Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Chronicle, Toronto Star, and Knoxville News Sentinel.
