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MARTA CAMINHA
Updated
This Saturday, the Spartans, the San José State University (SJSU) women’s volleyball team, achieved a dramatic five-set victory against Colorado State, which allowed them rise to first place in the Mountain West Conference. The great protagonist was Blaire Fleming, a transgender woman who scored 24 pointsincluding the last one after a serve that a player from the rival team failed to control.
So much for the ‘nice’ part of the story because some of Fleming’s own colleagues have filed a lawsuit against his team and the Mountain West Conference for allowing them to play and, in the process, obtain a scholarship to the detriment of themselves.
Blaire Fleming.
Brooke Slusser, captain of the Spartansis one of the plaintiffs who has asked that her teammate not be allowed to compete in the Mountain West Conference finals, which start on November 27 in Las Vegas.
The plaintiffs claim that university and conference officials violated their Title IX rights, which ensures that men and women are treated fairly in educational settings, including college sports.
For now, There are several teams that have refused to play against the Spartans this season claiming that the speed of Blaire Fleming’s shots, which reach 130 km/h, They would put the physical integrity of their players at risk.
Another plaintiff, Alyssa Sugaisaid that Fleming received a scholarship and took his place on the team. Sugai decided to end her collegiate volleyball career without knowing that Fleming was transgender and claims she suffered severe depression because of it.
Spartans assistant coach Melissa Batie-Smoose was suspended earlier this month for also opposing Fleming’s participation in the team and, incidentally, identifying a transgender player without her permission, in violation of privacy regulations. Batie-Smoose talked about “toxic culture” in relation to Fleming’s presence on the team.
