A Question of Sport - and Trans Athletes

[Kiwi_bloke]

I've been involved in trans rights since that subject first became an issue, and I've worked with companies to institute trans-positive and anti-discriminatory policies, and I've seen some very positive changes over the past few decades.

Now, I'm hitting the wall, and it's all about sports.

I can't agree that trans women should be able to compete against women. The problem is exemplified in strength sports - we had a male weightlifter who never made the Olympics as a man, but when he transitioned, in his late 30s, she became world-class almost immediately. Another very good example was a young woman who had won all the age-group titles in mountain biking and was a certainty to take the open women's class when she reached 18.

Alas, at her first national championships, a former male competitor had transitioned and beat her easily.

I'd be interested in opinions from trans women outside the sports world as to how they feel about these kind of situations - should trans women be able to compete against women? If so, why?

Thanks!

[Castor_Troy05]

Trans women have been allowed to compete at the olympics since the 90s. None have every qualified or won anything, it’s a non issue. They should compete with women because they are women

[morim]

I agree, if they have to be considered women (and I do), this applies to everything.

[holzz]

depends on the sport. not all sports rest on brute strength.
if a trans woman wants to compete in the world pool championships as a woman, i dont' see why not.

[HeWasNumber1]

If you think there isn't a problem with someone being born male physically playing sports(basketball, soccer, wrestling) with someone who was born female then you just haven't seen enough examples of men destroying women in sports(see the US women's national team playing against the U-16 boys and losing 8-2). No amount of HRT will close the gap enough to make it fair for Genetic girls to play against someone who was formerly male.

[Torris]

What constitutes a trans woman athlete? Do they all have SRS?

[Kiwi_bloke]

Trans women have been allowed to compete at the olympics since the 90s. None have every qualified or won anything, it’s a non issue. They should compete with women because they are women

That's not true.

Trans women have been allowed to compete as long as they have had full GRS, including gonadectomy and have been on hormonal therapy.

On those rules, I'm fine with it - it's the ones who claim to be trans without having had either GRS or hormone treatment that cause the problems.

Americans may be unaware that Biden's very early anti-discrimination law allows trans to compete at any level and without any testing or rules other than self-identification as trans.

[Kiwi_bloke]

I agree, if they have to be considered women (and I do), this applies to everything.

So, you'd be fine with Mike Tyson identifying as trans and getting in the ring with a woman?

Death would be the likely result.

[Torris]

That's not true.

Trans women have been allowed to compete as long as they have had full GRS, including gonadectomy and have been on hormonal therapy.

On those rules, I'm fine with it - it's the ones who claim to be trans without having had either GRS or hormone treatment that cause the problems.

Americans may be unaware that Biden's very early anti-discrimination law allows trans to compete at any level and without any testing or rules other than self-identification as trans.

The outcome of this will be to drive a further wedge between feminists and trans activists/LGBT+ communities

[Torris]

That's not true.



Americans may be unaware that Biden's very early anti-discrimination law allows trans to compete at any level and without any testing or rules other than self-identification as trans.

Without some sort of medical certification what is to stop male athletes from “self identifying” as women when they couldn’t gain a scholarship as male athletes.

Four year scholarship and after athletic eligibility runs out they go back to being male

That is most certainly going to be an unintended consequence of Biden’s EO