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I want to bring an important situation to your attention. San Diego State University’s Women’s Volleyball team is scheduled to play against San Jose State on November 9. San Jose State’s team includes a male athlete, leading several teams to boycott matches due to concerns about fairness and safety. Despite this, our local university, SDSU, is set to compete with them on November 9.

In collaboration with Riley Gaines and Payton McNabb, I’ve sent a letter to SDSU’s Women’s Volleyball team, urging them to reconsider participating in this match. For those unfamiliar, Riley and Payton are prominent advocates for women’s sports.

Riley gained national attention after speaking out about tying with UPenn’s Lia Thomas, a male swimmer, at the 2022 NCAA Division 1 Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships.

Payton’s advocacy is deeply personal; she sustained severe injuries, including a traumatic blow to the head that left her with lasting physical and mental effects, impaired vision, and partial paralysis on her right side. This injury occurred after a volleyball spike by a male athlete on an opposing team.

This call to action is rooted in fairness and common sense. As an SDSU alum, I’m committed to standing up for women’s sports. Below is the letter we have shared with the SDSU Women’s Volleyball team…

Allowing males to compete in women’s sports is wrong. It jeopardizes physical safety and strips away the merit of fair competition.

We are reaching out as advocates for fairness and safety in women’s sports and as individuals who deeply admire the dedication and spirit you bring to SDSU Women’s Volleyball.

I, an SDSU alum and San Diego County Supervisor, along with Riley Gaines, a 12-time All-American swimmer and Independent Women’s Forum Ambassador, Payton McNabb, feel a deep responsibility to address a critical issue impacting you and future generations of female athletes.

San Jose State’s Women’s Volleyball team has a male on its roster. Five women’s teams have already chosen not to compete against San Jose State. We urge you to consider the impact of your participation.

This is not just about one match or one season. This decision is about standing up for the integrity of women’s sports and the right of women to fairly compete. Allowing males to compete in women’s sports sets a dangerous precedent that could roll back decades of hard-won progress for women’s equality in athletics.

Young girls dream of competing at your level. By choosing not to compete in this match, you are sending a powerful message that women’s sports should remain a place where women compete. You are standing up for the countless young girls who look up to you, hoping that they, too, will have the opportunity to succeed in a fair and safe environment.

Your season has been extraordinary; we know how much you’ve accomplished. We understand this is not an easy decision, but we believe it is the right one and want you to know there are many standing with you.

Jim Desmond

– San Diego County District 5 Supervisor