Utah State was set to play volleyball against San Jose State. However, Utah backed out because the opposing team had a trans athlete.

Trans Althete Sparks Debate

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In recent years, trans athletes have been controversial and caused a stir among the public. Many are in support of “equality,” while others believe that a trans athlete has a physical upper hand over the opposite sex.

As such, the 2024 Olympics were widely debated, and many boycotted the international tradition. Meanwhile, several U.S. Universities have backed out of sporting events this year because of a trans athlete competing at San Jose University.

4 Universities have Forfeited

Among the four Universities, Utah State is the most recent to announce its decision to forfeit the game against San Jose State. The University announced in a statement earlier this week that it would not be competing in the match set for October 23.

Trans Athlete Prompts a Cancellation

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Interestingly, none of the universities have specifically explained how their decision to forfeit correlates to the knowledge of a trans athlete on the other team. However, the University of Wyoming, also among the four universities to forfeit explained they made a similar decision “after a lengthy discussion.” Meanwhile, Utah University released a statement noting they would “abide by Mountain West Conference policy regarding how this match is recorded.”

A Spokesperson Comments on the Trans Athlete

A spokesperson for San Jose State, Michelle Smith McDonald the senior director of media relations, explained that the University can’t discuss “the gender identity of any student” according to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

“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,” she said in an emailed statement. “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.”

Speculation Sparked the Controversy

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The Universities began this trend earlier in the year following speculation from a conservative website, which interviewed an anonymous parent at San Jose State who claimed there were “rumors” about a trans athlete.

A Lawsuit against the NCAA

Currently, the NCAA is facing a lawsuit filed by several women athletes for “violating Title IX. Among the students are Riley Gaines and Brooke Slusser. Slusser joined the lawsuit toward the end of 2023 and stated in the case that the trans athlete in question told her personally they were a trans athlete. Slusser also refused to refer to the trans athlete by their preferred pronouns.

According to the lawsuit, Slusser claims she endured “physical and emotional injuries, embarrassment, humiliation, emotional distress, mental anguish and suffering” from participating on a team with a trans student.

Thus far, the NCAA has stood by Title IX, making “unprecedented investments in women’s sports and ensure fair competition for all student-athletes in all NCAA championships.”

Trans Athlete Student Rights

The university’s decision to forfeit brings up another issue: privacy rights. While the trans athlete’s gender identity hasn’t been confirmed, the information has spread without her permission.

“Let’s be clear — this isn’t actually about sports; it is part of a coordinated nationwide attack on the LGBTQ+ community led by extremist right-wing politicians,” explained Tony Hoang in a statement Thursday. Hoang is the executive director of Equality California and notes these forfeitures “are harming all students involved.”

Making History

The controversy regarding trans athletes competing began a few years ago, and in 2021, Laurel Hubbard made history as the first trans athlete to compete in the Olympics. The New Zealand native participated in a weightlifting competition. “My performance wasn’t what I had hoped, but I’m humbled by the support I’ve received from so many people around New Zealand,” Hubbard said. “I am aware that my participation has been controversial. Thank you to the IOC for living up to the Olympic values and showing that sport is for all and that weightlifting can be done by all types of people.”

Although they ultimately “did not finish,” Hubbard sparked something that has been debated for years. People have strong and mixed feelings regarding trans athletes, however, it’s far more complex than people think. For instance, trans athletes had a specific and unique set of rules to folow which protected the wellbeing of their oponentes. Several sports featured trans athletes this year including cycling and BMX.