Republican leaders urge college conference to ban transgender athletes amid San Jose State controversy

Republican leaders from Congress expressed “deep concern” about the Mountain West Conference about transgender women participating in women’s sports.

Thirteen officials signed a letter to Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez, urging the conference to ban transgender athletes from playing against transgender women.

“We are writing with grave concern about the safety and fair standards of competition for female athletes participating in the Mountain West Conference,” the letter, signed by members of the US House and US Senate, says.

The letter was sent amid controversy at San Jose State University, where Blaire Fleming, a transgender woman, plays for the women’s volleyball team.

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Several teams have lost games against the Spartans this season.

“Title IX was established 50 years ago to even the playing field for women. Since its implementation, women have participated in a safe and fair competition – but recent events have shown that this is in danger,” the letter said.

“Recently, members of your conference have forfeited games, risking their competitive position to ensure the safety of female athletes. The failure of the Mountain West Conference to prevent natural men from competing in women’s sports is not fair to the women and girls who have worked hard to compete at the college level. We applaud the courage of these female athletes and universities in our states by taking action to preserve Title IX where the Mountain West Conference did not.

“Allowing natural men to play in women’s sports is not equality; it is unfair. Under these guidelines, it is appropriate for natural men to play men’s sports and natural women to play women’s sports. Clearly, the Mountain West Conference has trashed football.

Blair Fleming of the San Jose State Spartans reacts during the second set against the Air Force Falcons on Falcon Court in the East Gym Oct. 19, 2024, in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)

“Life isn’t fair, but sports should be. We ask that you address this disparity in women’s sports in the Mountain West Conference immediately, and we look forward to working with you to support women in college sports.”

Fleming has been one of the best players in the conference and an offensive anchor for San Jose State this season, even amid controversy. Fleming is third in the conference in kills per performance at 3.86 and accumulated 297 kills on the year despite playing seven fewer games than expected due to the loss. It helped give San Jose State the third-best hitting percentage in the Mountain West.

Fleming’s teammate, Brooke Slusser, is part of a lawsuit against the NCAA, and she filed another lawsuit along with other Mountain West players against the conference over the alleged presence of a transgender teammate. Slusser alleges that the school intentionally hid Fleming’s birth gender from him and other players on the team and around the conference.

San Jose State has repeatedly defended Fleming’s presence on the team.

Blaire Fleming, a redshirt senior at San Jose State University, plays outside and right hitter on the women’s volleyball team. (San Jose State University)

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“All of our athletes comply with NCAA and Mountain West Conference policy and are eligible to play under the rules of those organizations. Members of our volleyball team have earned the right to compete, and we are deeply disappointed with them and with them that they are being denied. Those opportunities are being denied and lost. We are proud of how they have persevered through these challenges. in court,” said a statement provided to Fox News Digital by a university spokesperson.

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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