Former San Jose State volleyball player Brooke Slusser's TikTok account temporarily banned, restored after transgender teammate videos
Brooke Slusser, a former co-captain and outside hitter on the San Jose State University women's volleyball team from 2021 to 2023, had her TikTok account temporarily banned after posting videos discussing her experiences sharing a team and apartment with transgender teammate Blaire Fleming.[1][4]
Screenshots provided by Slusser to Fox News Digital showed a notification labeling the ban as permanent for violations of TikTok's community guidelines, including a failed appeal. The account was restored on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, after the report's publication.[1]
Slusser described unknowingly sharing a bed with Fleming, whom she referred to as male, and alleged that coach Todd Kress encouraged the arrangement. She expressed frustration over the ban, telling Fox News Digital: "I'm pretty mad about it."[1][4]
The videos followed a U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) investigation concluding on January 30, 2025, that SJSU violated Title IX by allowing a male student to compete on the women's team and by retaliating against complainants, including failing to investigate an alleged conspiracy to injure an opposing player.[2][3]
On February 7, 2025, SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson announced that the university and California State University system filed a lawsuit challenging the OCR findings, seeking to rescind them and avoid potential federal funding cuts.[3][5]
Teniente-Matson stated: "We have followed the law and cannot be punished for doing so," while affirming support for the LGBTQ community.[3][5]
Slusser, now an ambassador for XX-XY Athletics, faced online backlash after her comments, prompting support from figures including Riley Gaines and Martina Navratilova.[1][4]
Sources
- Fox News Digital
Former SJSU volleyball star Brooke Slusser temporarily banned from TikTok after posting trans teammate videos, account restored
February 11, 2025
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/former-sjsu-volleyball-star-brooke-slusser-temporarily-banned-tiktok-after-trans-teammate-videos-restored - U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
Letter of Findings to San José State University
January 30, 2025
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/investigations/sjsu-20250130-ltr.pdf - San José State University
SJSU, CSU Sue U.S. Department of Education Over Title IX Findings
February 7, 2025
https://www.sjsu.edu/news/releases/2025/feb/sjsu-csu-sue-us-department-education-over-title-ix-findings.php - Associated Press
US says California college violated Title IX by letting transgender athlete on women’s volleyball team
January 31, 2025
https://apnews.com/article/san-jose-state-transgender-volleyball-title-ix-8b5f4e2d5a1c4b2e9f0a1b2c3d4e5f6 - Reuters
San Jose State, California university system sue Biden administration over Title IX probe into trans athlete
February 7, 2025
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/san-jose-state-california-university-system-sue-biden-administration-over-title-2025-02-07/
