RENO, Nev. (KOLO) -A group representing Nevada college faculty called for a Clark County university regent to resign after remarks March 1 about transgender athletes.
Regent Patrick J. Boylan said Thursday he has no intention to resign, saying he was concerned about women athletes being injured when they compete against transgender athletes.
During a March 1 Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents meeting reviewing university athletics, Boylan said he asked athletic directors: “Do we have any men masquerading as women playing on our teams and hurting any of our women?”
The Nevada Faculty Alliance responded with a statement calling on Boylan to resign.
“Boylan’s comments have directly attacked thousands of members of the NSHE community and are in direct violation of the Regents’ own anti-discrimination resolution,” the NFA said.
Boylan said he’s not resigning, saying he was only concerned about the safety of women athletes. He charged critics misconstrue his words. He couldn’t remember the word transgender, “so I said men masquerading as women.”
On Tuesday, University of Nevada, Reno President Brian Sandoval issued a statement calling the comments “extremely insensitive and hurtful.” Sandoval wanted the university community to know it embraces diversity.
“There is no place for hurtful and abhorrent comments like those that were made,” Sandoval wrote. “Trans and gender-diverse individuals have every right to feel welcome, safe, and seen on our college campuses. We are stronger when we embrace one another for the vast potential each individual person possesses.”
“He has to do what he has to do, like all the other presidents,” Boylan said. “They all have to do this to show none of our institutions are biased against anyone. Neither am I.”
Boylan added it was a “good thing to let them know there are no biases.”
Boylan wondered by Nevada university presidents didn’t criticize successful efforts by pro-Palestinian protesters to prevent a pro-Israel speaker from talking at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
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