Macy Petty, a Concerned Women for America legislative assistant and NCAA volleyball player, shares her concerns about the presence of transgender athletes in women's sports, claiming that female athletes are "blindsided" and their safety and dignity are compromised.
Amidst the ongoing debate surrounding the participation of transgender athletes in women's sports, Concerned Women for America (CWA) is raising concerns about the impact on female athletes. Macy Petty, a CWA legislative assistant and NCAA volleyball player, spoke with Fox News Digital about the organization's efforts to safeguard women's sports and ensure the safety of female athletes.
Petty alleges that female athletes are being "blindsided" by the presence of transgender players on opposing teams due to a lack of informed consent from the NCAA and participating schools. She claims that this has created a situation where female athletes are forced to choose between competing against male athletes or jeopardizing their safety and dignity.
Transgender Athlete Controversy: NCAA Volleyball Players Express Concerns over 'Blindsided' Involvement
"We want to protect the integrity of women's sports but also the safety of these female athletes," Petty emphasizes. "Many of these schools were unaware that there was a male athlete on this team until this news article came out in April. We just want to make sure that these schools know exactly what is going on in this athletic program because the NCAA and SJSU had not previously given them the decency to even let them know what was happening."
Petty recounts her own experience as an NCAA volleyball player, where she faced a similar situation during her recruiting process. She alleges that she was forced to compete against a male athlete without being informed beforehand, which raised concerns about fairness and safety.
Transgender Athlete Controversy: NCAA Volleyball Players Express Concerns over 'Blindsided' Involvement
"I thought this is obviously cheating, but I played anyway because I didn't have this time to sit and reflect and think about the decisions that I was making," Petty recalls. "It was just kind of upon me at that moment without any respect given to me about that decision."
CWA's concerns have prompted them to file a federal civil rights complaint, alleging female discrimination and arguing that San Jose State University (SJSU) allowed a male athlete to hold a female roster spot and scholarship. The organization has also sent letters to schools competing against SJSU, informing them of the situation and its potential impact on their female athletes.
Transgender Athlete Controversy: NCAA Volleyball Players Express Concerns over 'Blindsided' Involvement
Some schools have responded to the concerns raised by CWA. Colorado State University initially planned to host SJSU as planned on October 3 but is now re-evaluating its position after CWA filed the federal civil rights complaint and Boise State pulled out of its game against SJSU.
Boise State University forfeited its match against SJSU on September 28, citing concerns about player safety. Idaho Governor Brad Little commended Boise State's decision, stating that it was "working within the spirit" of his executive order defending women's sports. The University of Wyoming also followed suit, forfeiting its conference game against SJSU.
Transgender Athlete Controversy: NCAA Volleyball Players Express Concerns over 'Blindsided' Involvement
The controversy surrounding the participation of transgender athletes in women's sports has also sparked a lawsuit in Georgia against the NCAA. The lawsuit is headed by former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines and includes SJSU volleyball player Brooke Slusser as a plaintiff.
Slusser alleges that SJSU did not immediately inform her that Blaire Fleming, a member of the team, was transgender, and that the two roomed together on road trips. She claims that she learned of Fleming's gender identity through a comment made by a student.
Transgender Athlete Controversy: NCAA Volleyball Players Express Concerns over 'Blindsided' Involvement
The lawsuit alleges that team members were instructed not to speak about Fleming's gender with people outside the team. It further claims that Fleming's presence on the team has created a safety risk for female athletes, as her spikes have been measured at speeds exceeding 80 mph.
The ongoing debate over transgender athletes in women's sports has elicited strong reactions from both sides. While some argue for the inclusion and rights of transgender athletes, others raise concerns about fairness and safety for female athletes. The NCAA's policies on transgender athletes have come under scrutiny, and the issue is likely to continue to be a subject of discussion and debate.
