‘I Had A Kid That Did Not Smile’: Christian Dad Explains How He Learned To Accept His Trans Daughter In A Heartwrenching Speech
Brandon Boulware is a father of four, including a transgender daughter who plays volleyball.
Earlier this month, he spoke up for his daughter as he delivered his testimony during a March 3rd meeting of the Missouri state House.
Since then, Boulware’s speech has drawn much attention as some states debate restrictions on trans athletes competing in schools.
Introducing himself as “a lifelong Missourian, business lawyer, Christian, and the son of a Methodist minister,” Boulware shared his opinion on a resolution that would ban transgender high school athletes from participating in girls’ sports in Missouri.
Image credits: davidmweissman
Right now, there are about 35 such bills considered in 20 states. Just days ago, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves signed one such law, which is scheduled to go into effect later this year.
“I proudly signed the Mississippi Fairness Act to ensure young girls are not forced to compete against biological males,” Governor Reeves, a Republican, tweeted.
Supporters of these bills say they are necessary to reduce what they believe to be an unfair competitive advantage of transgender athletes who identify as female.
On the other hand, advocacy groups like the ACLU say that these laws are discriminatory.
Dr. Eric Vilain, a pediatrician and geneticist at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C, who has studied sex differences throughout his career and has also advised the International Olympic Committee on these issues, said that men have on average an advantage in performance in athletics of about 10 to 12% over women, which the sports authorities have attributed to differences in levels of a male hormone called testosterone.
Villain said the question is whether there is in real life, during actual competitions, an advantage of performance linked to this male hormone and whether trans athletes are systematically winning all competitions.
“The answer to this latter question – are trans athletes winning everything? – is simple. That’s not the case,” Villain said. “And higher levels of the male hormone testosterone are associated with better performance only in a very small number of athletic disciplines – 400 meters, 800 meters, hammer throw, pole vault. And it certainly does not explain the whole 10% difference.”
It’s a complicated issue. But what about high school? “At a high school level, many trans youth do delay their puberty, which means that even if they are not taking these gender-affirming hormones, their natural puberty in their biological sex is not happening, therefore resulting in a delay and an absence of an effect on muscle mass, at least for the male-to-female situation. So the supposed advantage of muscle mass and red blood cells because of testosterone becomes moot in middle and often high school competitions when there have been puberty blockers involved.” However, if a student isn’t blocking their puberty, the situation gets blurry again.
Last week, more than 500 student-athletes signed a letter that was sent to the N.C.A.A., pressing the organization to stop holding championship events in states that restrict or aim to restrict transgender athletes.
“You have been silent in the face of hateful legislation in states that are slated to host championships, even though those states are close to passing anti-transgender legislation,” the letter read.
Legislation on a federal level has also been introduced. Representative Greg Steube of Florida, a Republican, for example, in January introduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2021, which would designate sex as “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth” and make it illegal for operators of sports programs that receive federal funds “to permit a person whose sex is male to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls.”
A similar bill was introduced in the Senate by Mike Lee of Utah, also a Republican, last month.
The bills were sent to committees for review. In previous sessions, similar bills have not advanced.
Here’s what people said after hearing out the dad
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Asides from the actual debate, imagine having a father that supportive and caring of you.
Wonderful message. Its fantastic what he learned and that he now fights for the right of transgender people.
Aski Markup - First, you assume that any guy can outdo any girl in athletics and that's just not the case. Second, you sit here and make an assumption about a scholarship being handed to a transgender girl over a biological girl because of genetics without considering the impact of hormone therapies for transgenders. Third, your scholarship reference is flawed because you neglected to factor in one element, the college recruiter. Do you think they aren't going to take into consideration any perceived advantages or disadvantages when handing out scholarships? Your mind may only be able to process simple things, but they, I think, may be a little smarter than that.
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This is great for two reasons, one the obvious, he accepted and then defended his daughter, and two as a parent he admitted that he was wrong and tried to fix his mistake. Admitting that you are wrong is one of the most basic things that parents should but often don't do.
What berleyseys says is 100% true. We don't own our kids. We are temporary guardians. Their life is THEIRS! I am crying right now, that doesn't happen often. I have a cousin that went through what that little girl went through, but the opposite. When he finally transitioned to male, we finally were able to know what a wonderful, caring person he is...because he finally felt comfortable to open up and let people in! He has parents (he is about 25 now) that have stood by him the whole way. Things were different in the world 20 years ago, but they knew their child was not comfortable in their own skin when he was little, and they are his biggest supporters. And a few of his family members like me. But not all our family. The more religious side still call him his former name on purpose. (My Catholic side of the family is 100% supportive. My Baptist family is not at all. So our family is kinda divided about it, but we are ok with that because my cousin is worth it!)
Personally, I think sports shouldn't be gendered in the first place. Teams should be chosen by physical ability no matter the gender or biological sex of the athlete. Get equal teams against each other & it'll be a fair game, regardless of gender. Simply do not pit people who could hurt each other against each other. It's that simple. It doesn't matter what's in someone's pants. Just make even teams in the first place.
sport shouldn't be single-sex?... it's undeniable that male-bodied people have a physical advantage, men have the top speeds in every single sport DUE to their body. if we eliminate women's races and men's races, the men will simply win every single damn time. this is utterly ridiculous, and I don't even know why I'm debating this in the first place, everyone know that men and women have different bodies. ffs.
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The Olympics have had a trans-inclusive policy since 2004. California 8 years ago passed a law saying kids can compete in sports based on gender identity. There is no fallout. The fear behind this law is of an apparition. It is propped up by people who are willing to discriminate without evidence against a vulnerable group.
can i please upvote this 1000 times? such an important message about acceptance and unconditional love.
To all the people saying trans women are making sports unfair: You do realize that simply being biologically male doesn't automatically make you super athletic right? Men have to work hard too. Your chromosomes don't control your athleticism
chromosomes don't control your athleticism. puberty does, and boys go through male puberty which makes them inherently stronger. fastest runner? a man. quickest swimmer? a man. best weightlifter? a man. to deny that being male or female has any effect on your athleticism, that's like saying that male and female bodies have no difference at all. which they clearly do.
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As always, these anti transgender arguments are disengenuous. If you think about it, the earlier we allow transgender kids to be their true self, the less “advantage” they would have in the sports world. They would have access to the corrective hormones, if they choose, and those “advantages” would not even arise (in the case of girls) or, they would be given the opportunity to be on more equal footing (boys)
regardless of how many drugs we give kids, we can't change their chromosomes, the very thing that makes someone male or female. and to point out what you're saying... you think we should give younger and younger kids harmful drugs, like Lupron - a drug used to chemically castrate sex offenders? your argument seems rational and reasonable at first, but when we dig deeper it becomes clear what you're saying: give drugs to kids. also, if your biological sex has no affect on your gender, when why change your appearance to appear more masculine or feminine in the first place, if gender is an internal, mental knowledge? and if you say "gender expression" or some other bs like that, that's literally saying "oh I'm actually a girl so I'm only going to wear dresses. wearing dresses = girl, right? hahaha!".
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As a transwoman, I can relate to this... Although I didn't feel dysphoria for a while due to the fears of the pandemic, it comes back now and I don't know if I should cry. It's a part of me and I can't imagine what it's like to not have it, but it hurts so much
Aww... I know how much that s**t sucks... hang in there :)
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I almost cried when I finished reading this aaagh! TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS!
Okay, look. We’re not talking about the WNBA, we’re not talking about professional wrestling, we’re talking about high school volleyball. Making a comparison between the two is a desperate attempt to grasp at straws and try to find a reason to restrict the rights of this person, just because you don’t like the fact that she exists.
If you take estrogen hormones, then your body will revert to the normal physical abilites of a female. If you didn't know that, that's okay. Even without them, sports is literally based around if you are born with a special ability. Tall people have an advantage in basketball, and that's unfair to short people. So, being a woman born in a mans body is an advantage that people in the sports industry should be looking at in a more positive light.
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That male testosterone building muscle mass and giving men the advantage is a bunch of BS. I've seen plenty of women athletes, especially MMA fighters, that could kick the sh*t out of any of their male counterparts. Notice that all of these bills are being presented by male politicians. As women, if we feel we are at a disadvantage, shouldn't WE be the ones complaining? We don't need men to rescue us on something they perceive to be a women's issue. I, for one, think it's fantastic that this Dad supports his daughter!
men have an inherent advantage in sport. I can't believe I'm having to explain this to you. I'm a woman too, but I know that men have an undeniable physical advantage, and I'll complain should a biological man compete in woman's sports! if you don't believe me, check the statistics. fastest runner? a man. quickest swimmer? a man. strongest weightlifter? a man.
Load More Replies... So many parents just really hate the idea of having a gay or effeminate son.
True, but the kid in this story is not a gay or effeminate son, she's a girl.
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Do any of those anti-trans politicians really think that anyone is going through all the stress of gender reassignment just to win a high school trophy?
This dad comes from LOVE, but he's speaking to conservative politicians who are just looking for people to bully.
Are there any female to male transgender athletes competing against men? No?...thought not!
Yes, there actually is. Patricio Manuel. But that does not invalidate the fact that males and females are different, and, (usually) male athletes will be stronger and better than female athletes. The strongest man in the world is stronger than the strongest female, the fastest male is faster than the fastest female, etc.
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Why do the human societies allow individuals to do evil, hurtful deeds but reject and condemn those who do not hurt anybody by wanting to live their lives in peace?
I've been wondering why gender needs to matter at all either in individual or team sports. Could we rethink athlete classification from the ground up? Why not base it on characteristics of ability, sort of like classifications of boxers (featherweight/middle weight/heavy weight)? Could we base divisions on a general strength or weight classification? I'm sure the experts in each field would know how to best assess athletes.
Yes, yes, a million times yes! Not only would it wipe away a large amount of gender & sex discrimination, it would also make sure teams are evenly matched & nobody has an unfair advantage.
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....continued). Also, what about women, born into a mans body? Do they compete on men's teams now? And, all the questions, just mentioned in this post...are they applicable? I have not heard of this yet, but, it will happen. These are all conversations that need to be had, even if they re difficult for some. Transgender community has had it rough enough, and we need to understand, all they want, is to live like themselves. They are not asking for special treatment. They just want to be treated like everybody else. And I am sorry, to this community, that it seems like everything always has to be a " big deal", when they try to do anything that's just normal life for everybody else. One day, it won't be. Just hang in there. At the same time, I am not trying to " invalidate the women athletes concerns. I sincerely just wish for a solution, that is right by both parties. And I hope it's possible.
because male-bodied people have an inherent physical advantage. are you saying that there is no difference between men and women, biology wise?
Load More Replies... I thought I had an opinion about this, but I can see validity in each sides argument. Perhaps the problem is, is that there are a lot of variables, and that alot of peoples understanding of what certain things mean, of what certain things entail, are all different, from one person to the next. I always try to educate myself, but, after reading some of the comments here, I realize that, now, perhaps there are some things I thought I knew, but I might not. Education, is a life long endeavor! So when we say, this female, was born into a males body, but she has " transitioned"...do we mean she " has the matching outside now ", 100% and is on hormones? Is she avoiding adolescence, until she can get the proper " outside to match the inside"? Is she presenting as her true self, but, for the time being, unfortunately, has to keep her body the way it is? Also, What kind of " sports" is it? Archery? Track? Croquet?Ping pong? Does the sport make a difference? Or should it not matter?( Continued..
As someone who has helped encourage someone to transition I can absolutely attest to the fact that they were miserable before. I have known my friend since second grade, we are now in our thirties. And even in second grade they were miserable. I think the biggest struggle she experienced was no one talking about it. She had no outlet, no one to confide in. She was called every homophobic thing you can think of. That is also the completely wrong mentality. Just because someone is trans, it doesnt mean they are gay. She still likes girls just as much as she did before she transitioned. If you know someone transitioning or that is thinking of transitioning be as supportive as possible. It is not their job to educate you about it, but I felt my friend genuinely liked me asking questions about it. They needed someone who cared enough to ask and have dialogue about it. It was terrifying to her at times, especially telling her parents. But it was more terrifying to live her life for others.
While it's wonderful that he was able to accept his daughter, it's discrimination against bio women to allow transgendered women to compete in women's sports. Bio men have more muscle fibers and they're packed more densely, making them stronger even after they've transitioned to women. This makes them unfair competition for bio women. Given that women have been fighting for equity since the dawn of time, this would represent a step backward. You cannot extend rights to one person at the expense of others.
Dude we're talking about kids, not professional athletes. Trans women have the same rights as any other woman.
Load More Replies... He seems to be a wonderful parent. Having a body that you reject should be a tragedy, I cannot even comprehend. Emotions aside. In this let's call it 'fight' there will be a winner and a loser. If biological boys / transgender girls allowed in girl sports - the loser is obvious - girls competing against biological boys. This is should not even be a debatable topic unless you reject common sense and biology as a science. It goes without saying that in any sport that requires muscle, endurance and speed, women will always lose against men due to straightforward reasons. That's why women sports are separated. Wanna object? by doing so you will become a science denier just like these loony flat-earthers. It is simple, no emotions, just facts without any political affiliation. How can we include trans women in sports? That's a hard one. Allow them in girl/women sports? Ok.. why do we even care about girls/women sport anyway. They are used to be discriminated anyway through the ages.
Point 1: You're incorrect on the "facts" of "common sense and biology".. Point 2: Women's sports were separated b/c of social, not biological, demands. The social rules were shaped using poor science. In some events, biological males may statistically outdo biological females, but the reverse is true, as well. Ask Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs ---- and if you don't like that one, call on a local female cop or soldier. Or ultra-endurance swimmers. Please. Dig your hole deeper. Cheers!
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Serena and Venus Williams once lost to male tennis player Karsten Braasch ranked #203.
Seriously, think of this. A person playing in the WNBA. A person the size and shape of Lebron James. This is not a woman's rights thing or a trans rights thing. You can not ignore facts. The fact is, biological men are bigger, stronger, and faster than biological women. I know that there are women that are bigger than me, stronger than me, and faster than me. But I am not even a college level athlete. By having trans athletes compete on teams that do not match their biological sex, gender, thing between their legs. It's not just unfair. It's dangerous. Think of what could happen to a biological woman in a boxing ring with a person born a man! This is absurd and it still shocks me that I find people to argue with about this.
The thing about imagined scenarios, is that they are only real in your head. This bill in Missouri is based on 0 complaints. Why don’t you list some real examples, not imaginary ones? I can list a lot of real examples of transgendered people getting discriminated against.
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For all of you whining about the “advantages” of being a transgender girl in sports: you know what, even if that were a true thing, so what. Pretty much every other aspect of a transgender person’s life is more difficult and more dangerous. So, there is this one thing that they might have an advantage over cis gender ppl. Just be happy you don’t have to deal with the all the other s**t that goes along with that one “advantage”.
Wow! So trans 'women' (men) get to cheat at sports and deny real women deserved success because someone was mean to them? I actually started to laugh you complete and utter f*****g moron....
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@StrawberryParfait I'm so sorry you're a FART. a feminist-attributing reactionary transphobe. Having conveniently forgotten the existence of transmen? Transwoman are not predators for f**k's sake. Rather, they are hunted down as they dare to exist in society. We are less than 1% of the population for goodness sake. Maybe hear some 1st person experiences before vomiting out 2nd wave feminism as the solution to the problem. It doesn't work.
Everything he saying, I completely agree with. But that doesn't negate the fact that it's unfair to female athletes.
This is just an issue in schools that put too much stock in sports. If there were no school sports teams or just mixed sports teams, there would be no problem. We do not have school sport teams. Our sport clubs are outside of any school and are mixed for the most part. In professional sports.... I get the argument that a woman who was born a boy might have some advantage over other woman. But that is an entirely other issue in my opinion. It's professional and therefore paid. So, an Adult having an unfair advantage should be mature enough to understand this issue. If this is even true. Are Women who have been born a boy really stronger? I'm not sure.
There are plenty of coed teams for things like volleyball and girls now play sports like football on boys teams. You are trying to mask bigotry as concern. Stop it.
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Asides from the actual debate, imagine having a father that supportive and caring of you.
Wonderful message. Its fantastic what he learned and that he now fights for the right of transgender people.
Aski Markup - First, you assume that any guy can outdo any girl in athletics and that's just not the case. Second, you sit here and make an assumption about a scholarship being handed to a transgender girl over a biological girl because of genetics without considering the impact of hormone therapies for transgenders. Third, your scholarship reference is flawed because you neglected to factor in one element, the college recruiter. Do you think they aren't going to take into consideration any perceived advantages or disadvantages when handing out scholarships? Your mind may only be able to process simple things, but they, I think, may be a little smarter than that.
Load More Replies... This is great for two reasons, one the obvious, he accepted and then defended his daughter, and two as a parent he admitted that he was wrong and tried to fix his mistake. Admitting that you are wrong is one of the most basic things that parents should but often don't do.
What berleyseys says is 100% true. We don't own our kids. We are temporary guardians. Their life is THEIRS! I am crying right now, that doesn't happen often. I have a cousin that went through what that little girl went through, but the opposite. When he finally transitioned to male, we finally were able to know what a wonderful, caring person he is...because he finally felt comfortable to open up and let people in! He has parents (he is about 25 now) that have stood by him the whole way. Things were different in the world 20 years ago, but they knew their child was not comfortable in their own skin when he was little, and they are his biggest supporters. And a few of his family members like me. But not all our family. The more religious side still call him his former name on purpose. (My Catholic side of the family is 100% supportive. My Baptist family is not at all. So our family is kinda divided about it, but we are ok with that because my cousin is worth it!)
Personally, I think sports shouldn't be gendered in the first place. Teams should be chosen by physical ability no matter the gender or biological sex of the athlete. Get equal teams against each other & it'll be a fair game, regardless of gender. Simply do not pit people who could hurt each other against each other. It's that simple. It doesn't matter what's in someone's pants. Just make even teams in the first place.
sport shouldn't be single-sex?... it's undeniable that male-bodied people have a physical advantage, men have the top speeds in every single sport DUE to their body. if we eliminate women's races and men's races, the men will simply win every single damn time. this is utterly ridiculous, and I don't even know why I'm debating this in the first place, everyone know that men and women have different bodies. ffs.
Load More Replies... The Olympics have had a trans-inclusive policy since 2004. California 8 years ago passed a law saying kids can compete in sports based on gender identity. There is no fallout. The fear behind this law is of an apparition. It is propped up by people who are willing to discriminate without evidence against a vulnerable group.
can i please upvote this 1000 times? such an important message about acceptance and unconditional love.
To all the people saying trans women are making sports unfair: You do realize that simply being biologically male doesn't automatically make you super athletic right? Men have to work hard too. Your chromosomes don't control your athleticism
chromosomes don't control your athleticism. puberty does, and boys go through male puberty which makes them inherently stronger. fastest runner? a man. quickest swimmer? a man. best weightlifter? a man. to deny that being male or female has any effect on your athleticism, that's like saying that male and female bodies have no difference at all. which they clearly do.
Load More Replies... As always, these anti transgender arguments are disengenuous. If you think about it, the earlier we allow transgender kids to be their true self, the less “advantage” they would have in the sports world. They would have access to the corrective hormones, if they choose, and those “advantages” would not even arise (in the case of girls) or, they would be given the opportunity to be on more equal footing (boys)
regardless of how many drugs we give kids, we can't change their chromosomes, the very thing that makes someone male or female. and to point out what you're saying... you think we should give younger and younger kids harmful drugs, like Lupron - a drug used to chemically castrate sex offenders? your argument seems rational and reasonable at first, but when we dig deeper it becomes clear what you're saying: give drugs to kids. also, if your biological sex has no affect on your gender, when why change your appearance to appear more masculine or feminine in the first place, if gender is an internal, mental knowledge? and if you say "gender expression" or some other bs like that, that's literally saying "oh I'm actually a girl so I'm only going to wear dresses. wearing dresses = girl, right? hahaha!".
Load More Replies... As a transwoman, I can relate to this... Although I didn't feel dysphoria for a while due to the fears of the pandemic, it comes back now and I don't know if I should cry. It's a part of me and I can't imagine what it's like to not have it, but it hurts so much
Aww... I know how much that s**t sucks... hang in there :)
Load More Replies... I almost cried when I finished reading this aaagh! TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS!
Okay, look. We’re not talking about the WNBA, we’re not talking about professional wrestling, we’re talking about high school volleyball. Making a comparison between the two is a desperate attempt to grasp at straws and try to find a reason to restrict the rights of this person, just because you don’t like the fact that she exists.
If you take estrogen hormones, then your body will revert to the normal physical abilites of a female. If you didn't know that, that's okay. Even without them, sports is literally based around if you are born with a special ability. Tall people have an advantage in basketball, and that's unfair to short people. So, being a woman born in a mans body is an advantage that people in the sports industry should be looking at in a more positive light.
Load More Replies... That male testosterone building muscle mass and giving men the advantage is a bunch of BS. I've seen plenty of women athletes, especially MMA fighters, that could kick the sh*t out of any of their male counterparts. Notice that all of these bills are being presented by male politicians. As women, if we feel we are at a disadvantage, shouldn't WE be the ones complaining? We don't need men to rescue us on something they perceive to be a women's issue. I, for one, think it's fantastic that this Dad supports his daughter!
men have an inherent advantage in sport. I can't believe I'm having to explain this to you. I'm a woman too, but I know that men have an undeniable physical advantage, and I'll complain should a biological man compete in woman's sports! if you don't believe me, check the statistics. fastest runner? a man. quickest swimmer? a man. strongest weightlifter? a man.
Load More Replies... So many parents just really hate the idea of having a gay or effeminate son.
True, but the kid in this story is not a gay or effeminate son, she's a girl.
Load More Replies... Do any of those anti-trans politicians really think that anyone is going through all the stress of gender reassignment just to win a high school trophy?
This dad comes from LOVE, but he's speaking to conservative politicians who are just looking for people to bully.
Are there any female to male transgender athletes competing against men? No?...thought not!
Yes, there actually is. Patricio Manuel. But that does not invalidate the fact that males and females are different, and, (usually) male athletes will be stronger and better than female athletes. The strongest man in the world is stronger than the strongest female, the fastest male is faster than the fastest female, etc.
Load More Replies... Why do the human societies allow individuals to do evil, hurtful deeds but reject and condemn those who do not hurt anybody by wanting to live their lives in peace?
I've been wondering why gender needs to matter at all either in individual or team sports. Could we rethink athlete classification from the ground up? Why not base it on characteristics of ability, sort of like classifications of boxers (featherweight/middle weight/heavy weight)? Could we base divisions on a general strength or weight classification? I'm sure the experts in each field would know how to best assess athletes.
Yes, yes, a million times yes! Not only would it wipe away a large amount of gender & sex discrimination, it would also make sure teams are evenly matched & nobody has an unfair advantage.
Load More Replies... ....continued). Also, what about women, born into a mans body? Do they compete on men's teams now? And, all the questions, just mentioned in this post...are they applicable? I have not heard of this yet, but, it will happen. These are all conversations that need to be had, even if they re difficult for some. Transgender community has had it rough enough, and we need to understand, all they want, is to live like themselves. They are not asking for special treatment. They just want to be treated like everybody else. And I am sorry, to this community, that it seems like everything always has to be a " big deal", when they try to do anything that's just normal life for everybody else. One day, it won't be. Just hang in there. At the same time, I am not trying to " invalidate the women athletes concerns. I sincerely just wish for a solution, that is right by both parties. And I hope it's possible.
because male-bodied people have an inherent physical advantage. are you saying that there is no difference between men and women, biology wise?
Load More Replies... I thought I had an opinion about this, but I can see validity in each sides argument. Perhaps the problem is, is that there are a lot of variables, and that alot of peoples understanding of what certain things mean, of what certain things entail, are all different, from one person to the next. I always try to educate myself, but, after reading some of the comments here, I realize that, now, perhaps there are some things I thought I knew, but I might not. Education, is a life long endeavor! So when we say, this female, was born into a males body, but she has " transitioned"...do we mean she " has the matching outside now ", 100% and is on hormones? Is she avoiding adolescence, until she can get the proper " outside to match the inside"? Is she presenting as her true self, but, for the time being, unfortunately, has to keep her body the way it is? Also, What kind of " sports" is it? Archery? Track? Croquet?Ping pong? Does the sport make a difference? Or should it not matter?( Continued..
As someone who has helped encourage someone to transition I can absolutely attest to the fact that they were miserable before. I have known my friend since second grade, we are now in our thirties. And even in second grade they were miserable. I think the biggest struggle she experienced was no one talking about it. She had no outlet, no one to confide in. She was called every homophobic thing you can think of. That is also the completely wrong mentality. Just because someone is trans, it doesnt mean they are gay. She still likes girls just as much as she did before she transitioned. If you know someone transitioning or that is thinking of transitioning be as supportive as possible. It is not their job to educate you about it, but I felt my friend genuinely liked me asking questions about it. They needed someone who cared enough to ask and have dialogue about it. It was terrifying to her at times, especially telling her parents. But it was more terrifying to live her life for others.
While it's wonderful that he was able to accept his daughter, it's discrimination against bio women to allow transgendered women to compete in women's sports. Bio men have more muscle fibers and they're packed more densely, making them stronger even after they've transitioned to women. This makes them unfair competition for bio women. Given that women have been fighting for equity since the dawn of time, this would represent a step backward. You cannot extend rights to one person at the expense of others.
Dude we're talking about kids, not professional athletes. Trans women have the same rights as any other woman.
Load More Replies... He seems to be a wonderful parent. Having a body that you reject should be a tragedy, I cannot even comprehend. Emotions aside. In this let's call it 'fight' there will be a winner and a loser. If biological boys / transgender girls allowed in girl sports - the loser is obvious - girls competing against biological boys. This is should not even be a debatable topic unless you reject common sense and biology as a science. It goes without saying that in any sport that requires muscle, endurance and speed, women will always lose against men due to straightforward reasons. That's why women sports are separated. Wanna object? by doing so you will become a science denier just like these loony flat-earthers. It is simple, no emotions, just facts without any political affiliation. How can we include trans women in sports? That's a hard one. Allow them in girl/women sports? Ok.. why do we even care about girls/women sport anyway. They are used to be discriminated anyway through the ages.
Point 1: You're incorrect on the "facts" of "common sense and biology".. Point 2: Women's sports were separated b/c of social, not biological, demands. The social rules were shaped using poor science. In some events, biological males may statistically outdo biological females, but the reverse is true, as well. Ask Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs ---- and if you don't like that one, call on a local female cop or soldier. Or ultra-endurance swimmers. Please. Dig your hole deeper. Cheers!
Load More Replies... Serena and Venus Williams once lost to male tennis player Karsten Braasch ranked #203.
Seriously, think of this. A person playing in the WNBA. A person the size and shape of Lebron James. This is not a woman's rights thing or a trans rights thing. You can not ignore facts. The fact is, biological men are bigger, stronger, and faster than biological women. I know that there are women that are bigger than me, stronger than me, and faster than me. But I am not even a college level athlete. By having trans athletes compete on teams that do not match their biological sex, gender, thing between their legs. It's not just unfair. It's dangerous. Think of what could happen to a biological woman in a boxing ring with a person born a man! This is absurd and it still shocks me that I find people to argue with about this.
The thing about imagined scenarios, is that they are only real in your head. This bill in Missouri is based on 0 complaints. Why don’t you list some real examples, not imaginary ones? I can list a lot of real examples of transgendered people getting discriminated against.
Load More Replies... For all of you whining about the “advantages” of being a transgender girl in sports: you know what, even if that were a true thing, so what. Pretty much every other aspect of a transgender person’s life is more difficult and more dangerous. So, there is this one thing that they might have an advantage over cis gender ppl. Just be happy you don’t have to deal with the all the other s**t that goes along with that one “advantage”.
Wow! So trans 'women' (men) get to cheat at sports and deny real women deserved success because someone was mean to them? I actually started to laugh you complete and utter f*****g moron....
Load More Replies... @StrawberryParfait I'm so sorry you're a FART. a feminist-attributing reactionary transphobe. Having conveniently forgotten the existence of transmen? Transwoman are not predators for f**k's sake. Rather, they are hunted down as they dare to exist in society. We are less than 1% of the population for goodness sake. Maybe hear some 1st person experiences before vomiting out 2nd wave feminism as the solution to the problem. It doesn't work.
Everything he saying, I completely agree with. But that doesn't negate the fact that it's unfair to female athletes.
This is just an issue in schools that put too much stock in sports. If there were no school sports teams or just mixed sports teams, there would be no problem. We do not have school sport teams. Our sport clubs are outside of any school and are mixed for the most part. In professional sports.... I get the argument that a woman who was born a boy might have some advantage over other woman. But that is an entirely other issue in my opinion. It's professional and therefore paid. So, an Adult having an unfair advantage should be mature enough to understand this issue. If this is even true. Are Women who have been born a boy really stronger? I'm not sure.
There are plenty of coed teams for things like volleyball and girls now play sports like football on boys teams. You are trying to mask bigotry as concern. Stop it.
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