A Michigan high school has reportedly placed its athletic director on administrative leave after he broke ranks to defend a rival team’s transgender volleyball player.
Ann Arbor Skyline girls’ volleyball team has been at the center of a debate over the presence of a biological male player on the team, with multiple opponents pulling out of games against them this year in protest.
Monroe is among the schools to play volleyball against the Skyline, and the father of one of its players went as far as to file a Title IX complaint with the Department of Education, after his daughter competed against and allegedly had to share a locker room with the male athlete.
After the complaint was filed, Monroe’s athletic director Chet Hesson gave an unauthorized interview to Uncloseted Media, in which he defended the trans athlete in question.
The move has since landed him in hot water, with Outkick and CBS News reporting that he has since been placed on administrative leave by the school’s leadership.
In a statement to Outkick, Monroe’s superintendent Andrew Shaw said: ‘Monroe Public Schools only issues official statements through the Office of the Superintendent or the Board President.
Chet Hesson made an unauthorized media appearance in which he spoke about trans issues
‘Individual staff members expressing their personal opinions do not express the official position of the District. The Athletic Director’s podcast appearance was not previously authorized by the District and is not an official statement on behalf of the District.’
The media outlet also alleges to have seen an internal email sent to staff on December 8, which instructed them not to speak to the media while the Title IX investigation was underway, instead asking them to direct inquiries to the administration building.
Despite that, Uncloseted Media released a snippet of its interview with Hesson, who can be seen wearing the school’s crest as he defended the rival player.
The Ann Arbor Skyline girls’ volleyball team has allegedly been competing with a trans player, causing opponents to forfeit games
‘My heart goes out to them, whether they’re trans or not, just having that much negative [attention] on you and rhetoric is incredible,’ he told the host.
Outkick also reported a further email sent to staff by superintendent Shaw, which appeared to confirm Hesson’s absence from the school.
‘I am reaching out to let you know Dr. Hesson is on administrative leave. During this time, we ask you to not speculate on why but to be respectful to the process and to him,’ it read.
The Title IX complaint filed by parent Sean Lechner alleges that girls on the Monroe team were forced to share a locker room with the biological male player from Ann Arbor, constituting a ‘violation of privacy and bodily integrity protections under Title IX’.