NCAA Mountain West Conference Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said she is not familiar with the language or science surrounding the issues and concerns surrounding transgender athletes playing on women's teams in her conference.
San Jose State University has received international attention because its women's volleyball team features a 6'1'' male athlete named Blair Fleming (real name Brayden).
“We're in an election year, and it feels like there's no chance of winning because this is political…”
Since the controversy began, four teams have been disqualified: Boise State, Southern Utah, Utah State and Wyoming. University of Nevada women also declared they did not want to compete against Fleming, but school administrators decided to go ahead with the match.
Nevarez said at a recent press conference that this situation is “human beings on both sides of this issue, young people, student-athletes, and they are the ones who are getting the negative attention nationally.” He said he was heartbroken.
“That doesn't feel right to me,” she continued. Associated Press.
The MWC commissioner then explained that he doesn't know much about the issue (presumably men playing in women's sports) and said he's not sure about the “language” or “science” surrounding the issue.
“I'm learning a lot about this issue. … I still don't know much about the language or the science or the national understanding of how this issue plays out,” Nevarez said. said. “There are outside influences on both sides right now. We're in an election year. It's political, so yeah, it feels like there's no chance given the outside pressures.”
Nevarez did not seem to directly address the root of the issue, declining to refer to Fleming as male or female. [in question] If the team does not play, it will be disqualified, meaning it will suffer a loss, as it meets the eligibility criteria. ”
SJSU coach Todd Kress expressed a similar attitude, referring to the fact that his players are receiving hate messages without explaining why, saying, “I know a lot of our players are definitely suffering a lot. They're getting hate messages and this is just ridiculous.'' ”
Cress added: “When we first got disqualified, it was very heartbreaking. And now, we didn't expect it, but we know of certain programs that could be disqualified. “It still hurts student-athletes.” When we don't play, I think they've become a little bit more accepting of that and I think that's a huge shame.”
Though Kress doesn't seem to mention it, most of his female volleyball players are against having men on their teams, and they have reportedly provoked hatred for speaking out against his presence. It is said that he is receiving it.
Brooke Slusser, one of the SJSU players, told Blaze News that everyone involved knows exactly why the opposing team forfeited the game.
He added that schools largely ignore the feelings of female players and instead focus on male players and whether they feel comfortable playing among the female players.
“What I'm going through is… something I disagree with to the core of my bones. It's not right,” Slusser said.
University of Nevada captain Xia Lehli echoed similar sentiments.
She told Blaze News that the school did not support the team and talked about how administrators ignored the team's elimination vote. “Unfortunately, our university has decided not to support us and has decided to play the game as scheduled.”
Liiii added: “The majority of us have decided that this is not right. [and] We need to protect women's sports and we're going to give it up.”
Many coaches and administrators appear to continue to ignore the elephant in the room, and there is no indication that state or NCAA rules are being violated.
Recently, a group of women, including lawyers and former athletes, met with the United Nations Petition to international governing bodies to disqualify men from playing women's sports.
One delegate declared that the achievements of women influenced by men's participation in sports “can no longer be ignored.”
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