USU volleyball player says she was scolded for speaking out about transgender issues

LOGAN, Utah — A Utah State University women’s volleyball player is part of a new lawsuit against the Mountain West Conference, seeking to prevent a San Jose State University player from participating in a tournament later this month.

This lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Colorado by 11 volleyball players, including USU’s Kaylie Ray, and a coach. They’re upset that San Jose State player Blaire Fleming has been allowed to participate on a women’s volleyball team when they argue that Fleming is transgender and was born a male.

The plaintiffs in the suit want Fleming to be declared ineligible to play in the Mountain West Conference tournament in Las Vegas, which is scheduled for November 27-30 in Las Vegas.

Ray, co-captain of the USU women’s volleyball team, is part of the lawsuit. Her team chose not to play San Jose State last month, earning the support of many Republican state lawmakers in Utah. Southern Utah University also bowed out of a match against San Jose State in September.

Last month, Mountain West Conference Commissioner Gloria Nevarez told the Associated Press that Fleming “meets the eligibility standard, so if a team does not play them, it’s a forfeit, meaning they take a loss.”

The lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday, argues that Title IX regulations protect “equal opportunity for women’s athletics programs and opportunities.”

“The most significant reason that women overwhelmingly are unable to effectively compete for roster spots, scholarships, and recognition on men’s teams in these sports is biological: male competitive advantage derived from vast physiological differences between men and women,” the plaintiffs wrote.

Read the full story at KSLTV.com.

Related:

• USU volleyball joins growing list forfeiting San Jose State University games over transgender controversy
• National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes effectively bans transgender women from its women’s sports programs