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Melissa Batie Smoose & Vernadette Broyles on Courage, Consequences, & the Future of Title IX

Episode length: 33m

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When Melissa Batie-Smoose took a stand to protect the women she coached, she lost her job and her coaching career. In this episode we sit down with Melissa, former associate head women’s volleyball coach at San Jose State University, and Vernadette Broyles, Melissa’s attorney, for a conversation about courage, conscience, and the future of women’s sports. As the U.S. Supreme Court considers landmark cases that could redefine sex-based protections in athletics, Melissa’s story puts a human face on what’s at stake. Melissa shares what it means to speak up and take legal action when institutions–and her fellow coaches–stay silent.

We also look ahead to the legal and policy battles still to come, including why efforts like DFI’s RESPECT Title IX Act model legislation matter for restoring clarity, fairness, and safety.

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Freedom to Learn is a production of the Defense of Freedom Institute. You can learn more about DFI at DFIPolicy.org.

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Host:
Ginny Gentles