San Jose State Transgender Controversy: Boise State Withdraws from Mountain West Volleyball Tourney

Boise State University has withdrawn from the Mountain West Volleyball Tournament rather than play San Jose State University, which has a transgender player on its roster.

Background

The controversy began when Boise State athletic director Jeramiah Dickey announced that the team would not play San Jose State because of the presence of transgender player Jaydn “Pink” Cowell.

Dickey said that Boise State’s decision was based on the belief that Cowell’s participation would be “unfair” to other players in the tournament.

Reaction

Cowell and San Jose State have condemned Boise State’s decision, calling it “discriminatory” and “transphobic.”

“I am deeply disappointed that Boise State has chosen to discriminate against me because I am transgender,” Cowell said in a statement.

The Mountain West Conference has also condemned Boise State’s decision, saying that it “goes against the values of sportsmanship and fair play.”

Fallout

Boise State’s decision has sparked a national debate about the inclusion of transgender athletes in sports.

Some argue that transgender athletes have an unfair advantage over cisgender athletes, while others argue that transgender athletes should be allowed to participate in sports without discrimination.

Future Outlook

It is unclear what the future holds for transgender athletes in sports.

The NCAA has said that it is committed to ensuring that transgender athletes are able to participate in sports, but it has also said that it will defer to the policies of individual conferences and schools.

It is likely that the debate over the inclusion of transgender athletes in sports will continue for some time to come.