Catholic girls' volleyball team may face punishment after fans boo trans athlete on public school team
A transgender high school volleyball player in northern California was reportedly taunted and harassed during a game against a Catholic school on Oct. 12, according to ABC 7.
In response, another school's athletic director reportedly told the Catholic school that it could face “consequences” for the athletic conference.
The Oct. 12 game is hosted by Notre Dame Belmont in Belmont, California, and Half Moon Bay High School. Half Moon Bay has named a transgender athlete to its girls team.
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Notre Dame Belmont canceled an early season game between the two teams because of a transgender athlete.
In response to complaints of bullying and harassment, athletic director Steve Sell of Aragon High School in San Mateo, California, intervened. In his position as co-chairman of the Peninsula Athletic League Athletic Directors, Sell informed Notre Dame that there could be consequences, according to ABC 7.
Notre Dame Belmont responded with a letter to Sell, apologizing on behalf of those accused of booing. The letter also stated that the Catholic school will comply with the policy of banning viewers who display such behavior.
SJSU WOMEN'S FIRST PLAYER WHO DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT A TRANS PLAYER, PROPOSES A GAME THAT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.
“We have implemented our long-held policy of banning spectators from upcoming games (this season and last season) that abuse any person,” the letter said. “We deeply regret and apologize for the inappropriate and unsportsmanlike behavior of members of the NBD community at this game. NBD is committed to ensuring that incidents like this never happen again.”
Transgender athletes in women's volleyball and the subsequent backlash have become a national issue in California this year.
At the high school level, another girls volleyball team lost a state playoff game because their opponent “had a male athlete playing for their team,” the school said.
Stone Ridge Christian High School, located in Merced, was scheduled to face San Francisco Waldorf in the Northern California Division 6 tournament. San Francisco Waldorf advanced to the semifinals because it was the No. 1 seed in its bracket. But the Christian school lost in the announcement just before the game.
“As many of you know, our girls won on Wednesday and advanced to the state playoffs,” the school said, via Max Preps. “Unfortunately, we were recently informed that our rival, San Francisco Waldorf, has a male athlete playing for their team.
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“At SRC, we believe the Word of God it is authoritative and infallible. It is true. And as Genesis makes clear, God created each person wonderfully and immutably as male or female. We do not believe that sexuality is changing, and we do not intend to participate in events that send a different message. We also have a duty and responsibility to look after the health and safety of our athletes.
“Therefore, after consulting with our students, coaches and staff, we have made the difficult decision to cancel Saturday's game. Standing for the truth of the Bible means more than the outcome of the game.”
The player in question is reported to be a three-sport athlete who led San Francisco Waldorf to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) North Coast Championship last season. The CIF enacted “gender identity participation” rules in 2013.
“All students should have the opportunity to participate in CIF athletics and/or activities in a manner consistent with their gender identity,” the policy states.
Meanwhile, at the college level, the San Jose State volleyball team has been in the middle of a national media controversy over the presence of a transgender athlete on the team and a teammate involved in multiple lawsuits regarding the issue.
San Jose State women's captain Brooke Slusser has joined the NCAA and filed her own lawsuit against the Mountain West Conference and her school alleging she was misled about the biological gender of her teammate, Blaire Fleming. male.
The two have continued to play together this season in this ongoing rivalry but seven games have been taken away from their schedule. San Jose State will compete in the Mountain West championship, but a decision by a Biden-appointed judge after an emergency hearing in Colorado on Thursday could prevent that from happening.
A spokesman for the Mountain West said it is possible for San Jose State to win the championship if the opponents lose the upcoming championship games in Las Vegas starting on November 27. But the judge of the association Kato Crews will decide whether that program will stop or not, or if the team and the player of transgender can compete.
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