News Commentary
The ACLU and GLSEN want dysphoric males (trans girls) to compete in girls sports. The two trans athletes who won in “state” in girls’ track in Connecticut have not transitioned hormonally. And evidence is mounting medical transition does not erase biological advantages a male has over a female. There are even in-utero effects of testosterone that create physiological differences in things like hip angle, which affect running and bicycling.
People are not arguing trans students should not be in sports. People are arguing that the gender identity of MtFs, who have a biological advantage, should not override females’ rights under laws like Title 9. Most people do not have similar issues with FtMs participating in boys’ sports, as they are injecting high doses of testosterone that gives them a large advantage over girls. These two trans students could be treated well, have their pronouns respected, and be supported by a school with a strong anti-bullying program. They can be respected as transgender by society but run on male teams. There is nothing wrong with this concept if it is truly a “gender fluid” society that is ideal. A world gender activists claim they wish to create. It may be beneficial for boys to learn to be supportive and accepting of gender nonconforming people as well and not have this only be the role of girls and women in society. This puts the usual expectation of nurturing and emotional care taking on the female students at their own expense. Most violence committed against trans people are committed by men.
GLSEN is an LGBT rights organization. They do not address how bisexual and lesbian female bodied students are supposed to fairly compete against MtF trans students. The lack of access to a level playing field and scholarships will have a negative impact on the lesbian and bisexual female youth GLSEN also claims to support.
The ACLU also believes in an identity based worldview over biological sex. The slogans circulated here are appeal to emotion arguments and are not rational or scientific arguments proving their stance is fair to females. They don’t support arguments as to why dysphoric males are anatomically the same as females (they aren’t) or why their gender identity deserves greater weight than females’ access to sports with other female bodied people only.
Three female students have filed a discrimination lawsuit in relation to how these policies affect female bodied students. Multiple girls, who lost to these two trans athletes, were indeed affected. Female students’ record rankings were changed. Two did not win first and second place. Two did not place at all. All of this affects whether or not any of these students will be considered by college coaches for scholarships.
Not all transgender males, who feel they align with femaleness and transition and go by female pronouns, agree with competing against female athletes. There is a popular kathoey in Thailand who fights males in Muay Thai competitions and wins. There are other trans people who do not support participating in women’s sports, as LGBT organizations and other groups claiming to represent LGBT interests, do not speak for all LGBT people.
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