A gaggle of collegiate basketball gamers in B.C. say they won’t play a pair of video games towards one other group of their division this weekend because of alleged verbal and bodily mistreatment of a transgender teammate they are saying has not been addressed.
All 13 gamers on the Vancouver Island College Mariners squad have signed a letter saying they don’t really feel protected taking part in at Columbia Bible School in Abbotsford, B.C.
“All of us must be free to be ourselves and play the sport we love in a supportive and protected setting, together with queer and trans athletes,” learn the letter.
Mariners ahead Harriette Mackenzie spoke in October about verbal and bodily mistreatment she endured when her group hosted Columbia Bible School for a pair of video games in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mackenzie, who’s transgender, stated the visiting group’s coach, Taylor Claggett, went on a “tirade” after dropping on Oct. 25, yelling at a Mariners employees member about how Mackenzie should not be allowed to play towards ladies. A social media account linked to Claggett additionally posted anti-trans messages after the sport.
The 2 sides performed once more on Oct. 26 and Mackenzie claimed her opponents bodily focused her. She shared a video from the sport the place, away from the ball, a Columbia participant tosses Mackenzie to the bottom.
Columbia Bible School, an evangelical Mennonite bible faculty, later stated in a press release Clagget was “talking out for the security of her gamers like several good coach would do.”
“We stand in help of Taylor Claggett, and all our coaches, in expressing their official issues for the security of our student-athletes,” the assertion stated.
No suspensions issued
Mackenzie filed a criticism with the Pacific Western Athletic Affiliation (PACWEST), however the letter launched by her group on Tuesday stated the governing physique has not investigated or issued any suspensions or penalties.
“By doing nothing, by saying nothing, by issuing no suspensions or sanctions, your message is evident: you assume what occurred was OK,” learn the letter addressed to VIU and PACWEST management.
“We want you to know that we aren’t OK with what occurred. We do not really feel protected taking part in at CBC or with that group as long as coach Claggest remains to be free to behave the best way she did. Your inaction is not simply disappointing. It has made us and the sport much less protected.”
A spokesman for PACWEST declined to touch upon the letter or the convention’s response, citing an ongoing investigation.
Vancouver Island College issued a press release Wednesday expressing “full help” for its student-athletes and affirming their proper to compete in an setting that’s protected and inclusive.
The college urged PACWEST to handle the scenario with “diligence, care, and management,” including that “intimidation, harassment, and discrimination don’t have any place in athletics.”
“We belief PACWEST to uphold its ideas and prioritize the security and inclusion of all individuals in collegiate sports activities,” the assertion learn.
“We imagine it is a shared duty and name on PACWEST to fulfil its position in advancing this effort.”
Gamers requested to play regardless of fears, letter says
Columbia Bible School didn’t reply to requests for remark.
The group’s letter stated gamers are being requested to play video games in Abbotsford on Friday and Saturday regardless of their fears and amid misgivings a couple of security plan.
“The hurt carried out to Harriette and our group was carried out on the court docket by this coach — a coach and a group whose conduct you apparently condone,” it learn. “No unmarked buses, separate entrances, or banning of protest indicators will defend us from that.”
The letter additionally urged gamers have been advised that in the event that they really feel unsafe, they need to keep behind and never play within the video games
“You might be asking us to threat our security or forfeit a sport and lose our standing,” it learn. “You might be suggesting we divide and a few of us go play whereas leaving those that really feel probably the most unsafe behind. What sort of decisions are these? You need to be standing with us, standing up for protected and truthful play.”
The group, ranked first within the convention and fifth within the nation with an 11-1 document, stated it is not going to play at CBC till PACWEST suspends Claggett, strikes the provincial championship to a venue apart from CBC, and requires the varsity to decide to a “zero-tolerance coverage for hate and discrimination.”
The letter argued VIU shouldn’t be penalized with a loss if the group doesn’t play Friday and Saturday’s video games. If PACWEST will not decide to registering no wins or losses for the video games, the convention should postpone them, the letter stated.
“We love this sport, and we love our group,” it learn. “We’re relying on you to have our backs and do what’s proper.”
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