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The transgender athlete debate has been brought to the forefront by a women’s college volleyball team, much like Lia Thomas did for swimmers. This team has sparked a fierce discussion about transgender rights in sports.
Written by Juliet Macur
Juliet Macur provided coverage from San Jose, California.
During a recent volleyball game, the San Jose State University Spartans women’s team appeared like any other college team on the court. They were seen moving in a fast-paced manner, executing sets and spikes with precision, and leaping into the air to block shots. Their uniforms were in the colors of blue and gold, representing their team spirit.
Outside of the game, the team is doing their utmost to stay strong amidst a season filled with stress, emotions, uncertainty, and frustration. The players are at the heart of a conflict revolving around a controversial topic in American society: the eligibility of a transgender woman to participate in a women’s sports team.
The situation began in April, when a conservative website reported that a player on the San Jose State team was transgender, which came as a surprise to some of the player’s female teammates.
At the beginning of this month, a senior co-captain and the assistant coach of the Spartans took legal action to prevent a transgender athlete from participating in the upcoming Mountain West Conference tournament. They argue that allowing the athlete to compete goes against the Title IX regulations that ensure gender equity in institutions receiving federal funding.
A lawsuit was filed by a group of 10 female volleyball players, many of whom play for teams that compete against the Spartans. The lawsuit named the head coach and two administrators of San Jose State, as well as the Mountain West Conference and its commissioner. Additionally, the entire board of trustees of the California State University system was included in the lawsuit. The goal of the lawsuit was to remove the player from the tournament, the Spartans’ program, and women’s college sports.
Currently, the transgender volleyball player has chosen not to speak out. Apart from Brooke Slusser, the co-captain who filed the lawsuit, other teammates have also refused interview requests. The player’s identity is not disclosed by The New York Times as she has not confirmed it publicly and declined an interview through a university representative.
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