Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) speaks at an “Our Bodies, Our Sports” rally to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX at Freedom Plaza on June 23, 2022 in Washington, DC. The rally, organized by multiple athletic women’s groups was held to call on U.S. President Joe Biden to put restrictions on transgender females and “advocate to keep women’s sports female.”(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
OAN Staff James Meyers 8:30 AM – Wednesday, October 2, 2024
The University of Wyoming women’s volleyball team became the third team this year to forfeit a game against San Jose State University, who has a transgender player in their starting lineup.
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Wyoming joined Boise State and Southern Utah in forfeiting to San Jose State, which has Blare Fleming, a transgender female on their squad.
“After a lengthy discussion, the University of Wyoming will not play its scheduled conference match against San Jose State University,” the volleyball program said in a statement on Tuesday. “Per Mountain West Conference policy, the conference will record the match as a forfeit and a loss for Wyoming.”
Fleming is a redshirt junior at San Jose University, who plays as an outside and right-side hitter during two seasons so far at SJSU after previously playing at Coastal Carolina.
The University of Wyoming becomes the third school to refuse to face San Jose State in volleyball due to the presence of biological male Blaire Fleming. pic.twitter.com/vyJgoxn4R6
San Jose State responded in a statement to OutKick on Tuesday.
“It is disappointing that our SJSU student athletes, who are in full compliance with NCAA and Mountain West rules and regulations, are being denied opportunities to compete. We are committed to supporting our student-athletes through these challenges and in their ability to compete in an inclusive, fair, safe and respectful environment,” the statement read.
Additionally, Brooke Slusser a member of San Jose State’s women’s volleyball team, joined 18 other athletes in suing the NCAA over its current gender identity policies.
The lawsuit claimed that Slusser was concerned for her safety after realizing one of her new teammates was transgender.
Slusser claimed she was not aware that Fleming was transgender despite sharing rooms together on team trips, court documents revealed.
She also expressed safety concerns for opponents playing against Fleming.
“Brooke estimates that Fleming’s spikes were traveling upward of 80 mph, which was faster than she had ever seen a woman hit a volleyball,” Slusser’s complaint read. “The girls were doing everything they could to dodge Fleming’s spikes but still could not fully protect themselves.”
Furthermore, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon (R-Wyo.) posted a message of support to the team on X.
I am in full support of the decision by @wyoathletics to forego playing its volleyball match against San Jose State. It is important we stand for integrity and fairness in female athletics.
Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, who is also engaged in a lawsuit against the NCAA for having to compete and share a locker room with transgender biological male opponent Lia Thomas, applauded Boise State on September 27th for forfeiting against San Jose State.
“I commend Boise State’s athletic department and everyone involved in the decision to forfeit their match against undefeated San Jose State,” Gaines said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“Some principles transcend winning on the court, and the safety and well-being of female athletes is one of them. It’s encouraging to witness a growing number of institutions prioritizing fairness and athlete safety over forced inclusion. I hope to see more universities follow the lead of Boise State and Southern Utah, standing up for what’s right and protecting the integrity of women’s sports.”
In April, the Biden administration issued a sweeping rule that clarified that Title IX’s ban on “sex” discrimination in schools covers discrimination on gender identity, sexual orientation and “pregnancy or related conditions.”
The rule took effect on August 1st, and, for the first time, the law stated that discrimination based on sex includes conduct related to a person’s gender identity.
Furthermore, on August 16th, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to reject a Biden administration emergency request to enforce portions of that new rule that includes protection from discrimination for transgender students under Title IX.
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