University suspends women’s volleyball coach who spoke out against trans player
San Jose State University (SJSU) has suspended the coach of its women’s volleyball team after she spoke out against the team’s male player.
The right-side hitter for the SJSU Spartans women’s volleyball team is Blaire Fleming, a man who reportedly claims to be transgender. His teammate, Brooke Slusser, says women on opposing teams are unable to “fully protect themselves” from Fleming’s spikes, which she estimates travel faster than 80 mph.
Teams from five universities have so far refused to play against SJSU because of Fleming’s participation. But even some on his own team are opposed to his presence, including Slusser and the team’s associate coach, Melissa Batie-Smoose.
A climate of ‘fear and self-censorship’
Batie-Smoose filed a Title IX complaint against SJSU last week alleging the university has been suppressing its female athletes to favor Fleming. The complaint was filed with SJSU, the Mountain West Conference, and the NCAA, and accused the university of violating the federal government’s Title IX rule against discrimination based on sex in educational institutions.
In the document, reviewed by Quilette,Batie-Smoose alleges that school officials have been “bending over backwards” to accommodate Fleming. These officials include her direct boss, Spartans head coach Todd Kress, and SJSU Assistant Director of Student Wellness Laura Alexander. According to the complaint, Alexander said that anyone who disagrees with Fleming’s participation should leave the school and seek “therapy.”
Fleming has reportedly been given treatment not afforded his female teammates. He has been allowed to cut corners while other players have been subjected to stricter standards, with one even forced to play for another state. Fleming’s masculine strength has injured players, and now some of his own teammates flinch away when he winds up for a shot, says Batie-Smoose.
None of the athletes were told Fleming was male — though it was readily apparent — and they were forbidden from speaking about it. School officials repeatedly warned the team members that “this was Blaire’s story to tell” and “Blaire’s story alone.” A climate of “fear and self-censorship” set in, which included Kress lecturing the women that by opposing Fleming they were insulting the entire LGBT community. He also compared such opposition to anti-black racism and even criticized team members for not cheering Fleming’s wins with enough enthusiasm.
In one incident, Fleming allegedly conspired with an opposing team to lose the game for SJSU. Fleming promised to throw the game in exchange for an opponent’s promise to pelt Slusser with shots with the intent to injure her.
Suspended for speaking out
On Saturday, Outkick reported that Batie-Smoose had been suspended.
“The associate head coach of the San Jose State University women’s volleyball team is not with the team at this time, and we will not provide further information on this matter,” the school said in a statement. It had also expressed “concerns about a number of inaccuracies in the article” and “about apparent breaches of student and employee privacy."
School officials approached Batie-Smoose 90 minutes before a match on Saturday and informed her of her suspension. They demanded her school ID and keys and ordered her to leave the premises without retrieving her belongings.
Batie-Smoose, Slusser, and activist Riley Gaines are suing the NCAA over its policy allowing men to play on women’s teams.
