Santa Rosa Junior College students, faculty and community members showed a wave of support for the women’s volleyball team at a home game Wednesday after three players filed a complaint against a transgender teammate.
Players Gracie Shaw, Brielle Galli and Madison Shaw filed a Title IX complaint Sept. 3, alleging that having a transgender player on the team violated the safety of teammates and parity within the sport.
Officials began the game by reading a zero-tolerance discrimination statement before announcing the team rosters.
According to attendees, the crowd for this game was larger and louder than previous ones, and fans erupted in cheers as the announcer stated the transgender player’s name during lineups. Throughout the game, supporters showed solidarity with synchronous foot stomping and cheering whenever the team made a solid play.
SRJC student Laurel Heanui, 19, said anyone should be allowed to play sports within the rules. They think that the allegations against the transgender student were unsportsmanlike.
“Your teammates should not turn on you like that,” Heanui said. “They should not be trying to get you kicked off the team just because you are not a cis-woman. College is a place to learn and have fun. Students shouldn’t give others a hard time for being different from them.”
Heanui was one of many from the campus community to attend the game in support of the transgender athlete.
Angelica Barraza-Tran, SRJC Queer Resource Center coordinator, argued that having a transgender player on a sports team shouldn’t be controversial since more than 20% of SRJC students identified as queer in a recent student survey.
“I think that sports needs to catch up to meet our students where they’re at, and our students are not all cis and straight,” Barraza-Tran said. “I think sports should make a home for everybody.”
Brian Gillespi, the father of a player, said the girls play together as a close team.
“I’m 100% in support of anyone who wants to play the game and of people being who they are,” he said.
Shannon Pazoki, the transgender player’s seventh grade teacher, loved to see the “family camaraderie” the student’s teammates showed her at the game.
“It makes my heart beam with pride, knowing that this beautiful human that I once knew as a student is still bringing that same character and love from the community surrounding her,” Pazoki said.
Leticia Contreras, a former SRJC anthropology instructor, came to support the college community after the Title IX complaint became national news.
“I wanted to make sure to come out and support our team and be very clear that all of our students are welcome in all of the sports at SRJC and everywhere on SRJC campus,” Contreras said.
SRJC volleyball fan Liz Sullivan said she regularly attends games, but as an LGBTQ member, this one was significant for her.
“We wanted the team to know that, no matter what, we are here for them and support them,” Sullivan said.
Henrik Gutt, a fashion studies major, said he came to his first sports game at SRJC to stand with the transgender player.
“I hope that every student here knows that they’re valued and welcome,” Gutt said.
Jason Reid, a member of the Students for Recovery and Second Chance clubs, came to show unity within the SRJC community.“The team has made its decision that the individual in question belongs on the team,” Reid said. “I feel us at the Junior College and the team should support that no matter what.”
Heightened police presence outside of Haehl Pavilion hinted at the SRJC community’s uneasiness about possible disturbances from outside groups, but the matches and its spectators, remained peaceful.
Despite losing the game, the teammates embraced in triumph and fans gave them an extended standing ovation before walking out with pride flags and transgender ally signs held high.
