Jaedyn Young
| Special to the RGJPatrick J. Boylan, a member of the Nevada State Higher Education Board of Regents, defended the comments he made on transgender student-athletes on the March 1 meeting, telling the RGJ he has no intention of resigning.During a report from athletic administrators, Boylan requested, “Do we have any men masquerading as women playing in any of our teams or hurting any of the women? Do we have that issue here in NSHE?”He requested whether or not data had been stored on transgender athletes, and if not, why. Michael B. Wixom, particular counsel for the board of regents, responded that such a disclosure would violate federal privateness legal guidelines.Boylan did not use the time period “transgender,” which he later mentioned he was unfamiliar with.After being criticized throughout public remark for his questions, Boylan mentioned he has a First Amendment proper to talk freely.“I see it as a man masquerading as a woman … he’s still a man,” Boylan mentioned. “That’s the way I see it, that’s the way I’ll say it.”A day after the Las Vegas assembly, the Nevada Faculty Alliance called on him to resign, and statements from fellow regents, pupil organizations and UNR President Brian Sandoval had been despatched condemning Boylan’s comments and expressing assist for LGBTQ college students.Boylan blames ‘woke agendas’ for responseBoylan instructed the Reno Gazette-Journal that what he mentioned was “turned around.”“All I’ve ever done is talk about safety,” Boylan mentioned. “My whole point was safety for female students and I will not resign because I’m standing up for women, because I’m standing up for athletes and I’m standing up for students. I will not resign because they have totally misconstrued what I was saying.”Boylan mentioned he was stunned the feminine regents didn’t ask extra questions in regards to the security of feminine pupil athletes.“I’m all for all students living happily, learning, being educated, not being used by all these ‘cancel culture’ and other woke agendas,” Boylan mentioned. “They’re just using these students, my students I can say, and that’s wrong.”Boylan was elected in 2020 to signify the district that features components of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas. He sits on the board’s safety and audit, compliance and Title IX committees. His time period expires in 2027.Boylan mentioned that as an elected board member, it could require a recall to take away him.“The board cannot make me resign and no one can make me resign,” Boylan mentioned.“I am not against anyone racially, sexually, whatever, nothing of that sort. And anyone who really knows me will tell you that,” Boylan instructed the RGJ. “I totally believe in live and let live.”Responses condemn comments, present assist for LGBTQ college studentsRegents Chair Amy Carvalho and Vice Chair Jeffrey Downs despatched out a statement on March 4, a day after the Nevada Faculty Alliances’ name for Boylan to step down:“… (The) Board of Regents is dedicated to upholding the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access,” it mentioned. “Every individual deserves to be treated with dignity and respect when participating in an NSHE public meeting or attending an NSHE campus, regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, or any other individual characteristic.”This week, each the Sandoval and Associated Students of the University of Nevada despatched messages of assist for gender-diverse college students.“There is no place for hurtful and abhorrent comments like those that were made. Trans and gender-diverse individuals have every right to feel welcome, safe, and seen on our college campuses,” Sandoval mentioned in an electronic mail. “We are a much stronger institution when individuals who are at risk know they are supported by those around them.”ASUN despatched a press release: “We consider that each particular person no matter gender identification deserves to be handled with dignity, respect and empowerment,” and despatched a hyperlink to campus assets for anybody who felt harmed by Boylan’s comments.Jaedyn Young is a contract reporter for the Reno Gazette-Journal.