So that’s it then, no more women’s sports in the US.
Joe Biden’s first day in office delivered an incremental victory for transgender athletes seeking to participate as their identified gender in high school and college sports.
That is, Joe Biden’s first day in office delivered an incremental victory for male athletes seeking to participate as female in high school and college sports, and a loss for girls and women.
In Idaho, a law signed in March by the Republican governor, Brad Little, became the nation’s first to prohibit transgender students who identify as female from playing on female teams sponsored by public schools, colleges and universities. The legislation was overwhelmingly supported by the state’s Republican-dominated house and the Trump administration but blocked from implementation by a federal judge while a legal challenge by the American Civil Liberties Union and Legal Voice proceeds.
Backers said the law, called the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, is necessary because transgender female athletes have physical advantages.
Opponents, which include healthcare groups and human rights advocates, claim the restrictions harm the emotional and physical wellbeing of transgender youth. Similar laws in other states have been funded by advocacy groups like Alliance Defending Freedom, a Southern Poverty Law Center-designated hate group whose other legal work revolves around attacking reproductive rights, gay marriage and other LGBTQ+ rights.
Notice the complete failure to address the “because transgender female athletes have physical advantages” part.
In Connecticut, the Trump administration intervened in support of a lawsuit filed by several non-transgender girls in Connecticut who were seeking to block a state policy that allows transgender athletes to compete in line with their identity. The plaintiffs argued transgender female runners had an unfair physical advantage.
But the two transgender runners at the center of that case said in court filings that being able to run against girls was central to their wellbeing.
“Running has been so important for my identity, my growth as a person, and my ability to survive in a world that discriminates against me,” Andraya Yearwood wrote to the court. “I am thankful that I live in Connecticut where I can be treated as a girl in all aspects of life and not face discrimination at school.”
What if being able to run against girls is also central to the wellbeing of the girls? Why should Yearwood’s wellbeing matter more than theirs? What about the girls’ identity, growth as persons, and ability to survive in a world that discriminates against them? Why does Yearwood’s everything matter more than their everything?
The piece ends with a comment from Chase Strangio.
Comments
11 responses to “His wellbeing matters more than hers”
Notice that mens’ sport is not threatened by women who identify as men wanting in. Only womens’ sport is so threatened. Women comprise slightly over 50% of the population, and they can ALL be threatened by men who choose to identify as women; in changerooms, on playing fields etc, etc So to appease a tiny minority of the population, maybe ~1%, ~50% of the remainder have t be put at risk.
It is only a matter of time before some genetically male rapist, thief or murdering sadist claims his first genetically female victim inside a women-only change room. The politics of this are counterproductive bullshit. The whole setup is just a ticking bomb.
Personally I’m almost eagerly awaiting that bomb to go off so I can finally go: “See, I’m right, the astoundingly obvious truth is as I have said all along.”
There are any number of things that are ended with a comment from Chase Strangio.
For fucks
sake.
Trans has become the default
More likely the author feared offending trans people and their sympathisers. But not, you know, actual women and girls. Or reality.
I read this from a Facebook link. The headline is appalling, isn’t it?
One FB commenter corrected it to read:
Vs.
Just came across this article again “arguing” that trans are the most oppressed ever and declaring Making sure that a violently oppressed and marginalized community is treated with basic human dignity does not take anything away from anyone else.
Beaten by a commenter who wrote
Quite a few others pushing back, too.
It is only a matter of time before some genetically male rapist, thief or murdering sadist claims his first genetically female victim inside a women-only change room.
Has that not happened yet? I thought it had (though I don’t know of specific instances).
Keir Starmer has wisely kept away from this issue. I think Biden has been foolish, morally & politically.
.