Nevada Lawmaker Faces Backlash After Allegations of Discarding Letters from Young Advocates Against Trans Athlete Participation

Nevada Lawmaker Faces Backlash After Allegations of Discarding Letters from Young Advocates Against Trans Athlete Participation

On Tuesday, a group of Nevada women and families gathered at the state capital building in Carson City. Their aim was to lobby for a resolution aimed at preventing trans athletes from competing in girls’ sports. This assembly highlights a contentious issue that has sparked significant debate across the nation.

Currently, the state legislature has two proposed bills that address this topic. However, the Democratic majority has not shown willingness to hold hearings on these critical measures. This lack of action has drawn criticism from parents and advocates who believe their concerns need more attention.

Allegations Surrounding a Staffer’s Actions

During the rally, two young girls, along with a witness, claimed that a staff member from Democratic Assemblymember Elaine Marzola’s office crumpled and tossed their letters into the trash. Marzola has categorically denied these allegations, stating that such actions did not occur.

Among the young advocates was Ava Chavez, a 13-year-old middle school student who prepared a heartfelt letter addressed to assembly members. In her letter, Ava recounted her challenges competing against a biological male in volleyball last year, conveying both emotional distress and a plea for legislative action.

Ava’s Emotional Appeal

Ava’s letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, expressed her fears regarding the safety of competing against boys in sports. She wrote, “When the ball is on the other side of the net, they have a chance to swing and we have a chance to block. This can be dangerous for us because if the blockers can’t block the boy’s hit, I could get dangerously hurt.” She concluded her letter by urging lawmakers to support SB112, a bill aimed at protecting female athletes.

Ava reported witnessing a staffer from Marzola’s office discard her letter along with those of other young advocates. “When I walked in, she took my paper between her fingers and she was like sliding it into the trash can,” Ava recalled. Following her, other girls also deposited their letters on Marzola’s desk.

Another Advocate Speaks Out

Joining Ava was 17-year-old Kendall Lewis, a high school athlete who had also competed against a trans athlete in her volleyball games. Lewis described a similar experience, stating that she saw her letter crumpled and disregarded. “As she took them from us, she kind of crumpled them a little bit, not completely like into a ball, but just kind of threw them away and just disregarded them,” Lewis told Fox News Digital.

Support from Former Athletes

The effort to lobby for these measures was spearheaded by Sia Liilii, a former University of Nevada volleyball player who has been living with the Chavez family. Liilii corroborated the girls’ accounts, adding details about the moment she saw someone from Marzola’s team discard their letters.

“After hearing the rustling papers, I looked back and Kendall said ‘she just threw it away,’