Boise State’s recent decision to forfeit a women’s volleyball match against San José State University wasn’t a political statement. It wasn’t transphobia. It wasn’t about taking sides in some cultural war. It was about protecting fairness and ensuring the safety of female athletes—two things that should be the foundation of women’s sports, period.
Yet, in today’s world, even standing up for common sense and biology is treated like an act of defiance. We’re at a point where basic facts about physical differences between men and women are being ignored, twisted, or labeled as hateful. But this isn’t about hate. It’s about protecting the integrity of women’s sports and ensuring that athletes, who have worked their whole lives to compete on an even playing field, aren’t forced to endure an unfair disadvantage.
A Forfeit that Sends a Message
On Saturday, September 28, Boise State women’s volleyball forfeited their match against San José State. The official statement from Boise State Athletics didn’t go into detail, simply stating, “Per Mountain West Conference policy, the Conference will record the match as a forfeit and a loss for Boise State. The Broncos will next compete on Oct. 3 against Air Force.”
However, anyone paying attention knows the real reason behind the decision: San José State’s team includes a transgender athlete, Blaire Fleming. Fleming, who was born male, competes as a female athlete and, by any objective standard, possesses significant physical advantages over the biologically female athletes on the court. This isn’t about feelings or identity; it’s about biology. Fleming’s spikes, reportedly reaching speeds of 80 mph, aren’t just unfair—they’re dangerous.
This Is About Safety and Fairness
Let’s be crystal clear: This isn’t about denying anyone the right to live how they choose. It’s not about being anti-transgender or hateful. But when biological males compete in women’s sports, it becomes a safety issue. Women’s bodies are not built to handle the same level of force that a male body can generate. There’s a reason men and women have competed in separate divisions for decades—because fairness and safety require it.
Imagine being a female volleyball player on the receiving end of a spike traveling at 80 mph, hit by someone who, biologically, has a stronger upper body and faster reaction times. That’s not competition—that’s a liability. This is what Boise State’s athletes were being asked to face, and they made the right call to walk away.
In fact, this isn’t the first time San José State has faced this kind of controversy. Southern Utah University also opted out of a match against them earlier this month for the same reason. How many more teams need to forfeit, and how many female athletes need to be put in harm’s way before we acknowledge the reality of the situation?
A Battle Over Title IX
This issue also touches on Title IX—the federal law that guarantees equal opportunities for men and women in sports. When Title IX was passed in 1972, it was a game-changer for women’s athletics. It ensured that women had the same opportunities as men to compete and thrive in sports. But now, with the inclusion of transgender athletes, Title IX is being twisted beyond recognition.
Female athletes, like Blaire Fleming’s teammate Brooke Slusser, have started fighting back. Slusser and more than a dozen other female athletes have filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, arguing that allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports violates their Title IX rights. And they’re absolutely right.
Slusser’s experience speaks for itself. She describes feeling “terrorized” in practice and games, where she was forced to dodge high-speed volleyballs slammed at her by someone with the physical capabilities of a male athlete. She’s not alone—there are countless stories of women across sports feeling unsafe, demoralized, and robbed of their rightful place in competition.
This Is Not About Transphobia – It’s About Reality
Let’s face it—there are biological differences between men and women that no amount of hormone therapy can fully negate. These differences matter, especially in competitive sports. When we blur the lines between male and female athletes, we erode the fairness and safety that women have fought so hard to secure.
Boise State’s decision wasn’t made lightly. It wasn’t a statement about anyone’s identity. It was about protecting their athletes and upholding the basic principles of fairness in women’s sports. The fact that they’re being criticized for it speaks volumes about how far off-track this conversation has gone.
We live in a time where stating the obvious—that men and women are different—can get you labeled as a bigot. But this isn’t bigotry; it’s biology. Allowing biological males to compete against females in sports is unfair. It’s unsafe. And it’s downright wrong.
A Stand for Women’s Sports
Governor Brad Little praised Boise State for their decision, commending them for working within the spirit of Idaho’s new Defending Women’s Sports Act. “We need to ensure player safety for all of our female athletes and continue the fight for fairness in women’s sports,” Little said. He’s absolutely right. This is about defending the integrity of women’s sports, ensuring that female athletes have a level playing field, and protecting their safety.
Boise State’s decision to forfeit was a brave one. It’s a stand for fairness, safety, and common sense. They could have taken the easy road and played the match, but they chose to defend their athletes instead. And they deserve respect for that.
The NCAA, which continues to allow transgender athletes like Blaire Fleming to compete, is the real villain here. They’ve turned a blind eye to the concerns of female athletes, prioritizing political correctness over fairness and safety. They’ve betrayed the very athletes Title IX was designed to protect.
Final Thoughts
This is about more than just one volleyball match or one transgender athlete. It’s about the future of women’s sports. Are we going to allow fairness and safety to be sacrificed on the altar of political correctness, or are we going to stand up for common sense, biology, and what’s right?
Boise State made the right call. It’s time the rest of the sports world followed suit.
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JIMMY
h/t: Steadfast and Loyal