First Person: Female College Athlete Speaks Out About and Sues NCAA Over Biological Male On Her Team | Ep. 915
2Digest
The episode delves into the controversy surrounding the participation of male athletes in women's sports, focusing on the case of Blair Fleming, a male athlete playing on the San Jose State University women's volleyball team. Brooke Slusser, a teammate of Fleming, shares her personal experience, revealing how she discovered Fleming's true identity and the subsequent challenges she faced. Slusser discusses the unfair advantage Fleming possesses due to his physical strength and the potential for injury to female athletes. She also criticizes the university's response to the situation, believing they prioritize Fleming's well-being over the safety and well-being of the female athletes. The episode explores the political implications of the situation, arguing that it is not about politics but about the fundamental fairness of women's sports. Slusser emphasizes the importance of protecting women's sports and ensuring fair competition for all female athletes.
Outlines
Introduction and The Fight for Women's Sports
The episode begins with an introduction to The Megan Kelly Show and then focuses on the fight to protect women's sports, specifically highlighting the case of a male athlete, Blair Fleming, playing on the San Jose State University women's volleyball team.
Teams Forfeit Games and Brooke Slusser Speaks Out
Teams in the Mountain West Conference have forfeited games against San Jose State University due to concerns about Fleming's presence on the team. Brooke Slusser, a teammate of Blair Fleming, joins the show to discuss her experience and the lawsuit she has joined against the NCAA.
Brooke Slusser's Story and The Impact on Brooke
Brooke shares her story of discovering that Blair Fleming is a male athlete posing as a female, and the subsequent challenges she faced. Brooke discusses the impact of the situation on her, including the death threats she received and the heavy security presence at a recent game.
University's Response and Political Implications
Brooke expresses her lack of trust in the university's response to the situation, believing they are prioritizing Blair Fleming over the safety and well-being of the female athletes. Brooke discusses the political implications of the situation, arguing that it is not about politics but about the fundamental fairness of women's sports.
Nike Ad and Brooke's Hope for the Future
Megan Kelly plays an ad from XXXY Athletics, criticizing Nike for not standing up for women in the face of male athletes competing in women's sports. Brooke discusses her hope for the future of women's sports, hoping that the lawsuit will force universities and governing bodies to comply with Title IX and ensure fair competition for female athletes.
Keywords
Title IX
A federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. It ensures equal opportunities for women in sports.
Transgender Athlete
An individual whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. The participation of transgender athletes in sports has become a controversial topic.
Safe Women's Sports
A movement advocating for the protection of women's sports by ensuring fair competition and preventing male athletes from competing in female categories.
Gaslighting
A form of psychological manipulation where a person seeks to sow seeds of doubt in a victim's mind, making them question their own sanity or perception of reality.
Equity
The state of being fair and impartial. In the context of sports, equity refers to ensuring equal opportunities and fair competition for all athletes, regardless of gender identity.
Q&A
What prompted Brooke Slusser to speak out about the situation?
Brooke felt compelled to speak out for the sake of future generations of female athletes, wanting to ensure they don't have to face similar challenges.
How did Brooke discover that Blair Fleming is a male athlete?
Brooke overheard a conversation between teammates and basketball players who revealed that Blair is a biological male.
What are the concerns about Blair Fleming's presence on the team?
Concerns include the unfair advantage he has due to his physical strength and the potential for injury to female athletes during practice and games.
What is the university's response to the situation?
The university has been accused of prioritizing Blair Fleming's well-being over the concerns of the female athletes, refusing to remove him from the team.
What are the potential consequences for Brooke and other athletes who speak out?
Athletes who speak out against the inclusion of male athletes in women's sports face potential backlash, including death threats, social ostracization, and loss of scholarships.
What is Brooke's message to Megan Rapinoe and other prominent athletes who claim that transgender athletes are not taking advantage of women's sports?
Brooke argues that the presence of male athletes in women's sports creates an unfair advantage and undermines the integrity of female competition.
What is Brooke's hope for the future of women's sports?
Brooke hopes that the lawsuit will force universities and governing bodies to comply with Title IX and ensure fair competition for female athletes.
Show Notes
In this "First Person" bonus episode, Megyn Kelly is joined by Brooke Slusser, San Jose State volleyball player who is suing the NCAA after finding out a biological male is on her team, to talk about how she ended up on the same women's volleyball team as a male player, how she was never told about him when she transferred to the school, being forced to live with and room with while traveling the male player, what it's like to play on the same team as a male athlete, the unfair physical advantages this player has, her decision to speak out about it and join a lawsuit against the NCAA, the reaction she's gotten from coaches and her teammates, her discussion with the biological male after she went public, the bravery of other schools refusing to play her school, getting death threats over her position, and more.
Slusser's lawsuit- https://www.iconswomen.com/take-on-the-ncaa/
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