World swimming bans almost all those born as male from competing as women

Thank goodness this nation's most pressing issue will be solved.

 

The main reason I like this decision is that those young kids that really need this for the right reasons, can do so and then compete in sports if they choose to. For those that may do so later on for the wrong reasons will know they will be giving up something like sports but will not be denied any other right. It is a compromise, but a fair one for women's sports, which is also important.

 

Word. It's irrational to think that anyone, save for some random nutjob parent would ever have their child transition for the purposes of sports sometime in the distant & unknown future. There will be no rush.

That said, I don't have a problem with this decision despite my full support for transgender rights. Competing in sports comes with a critical competitive fairness element and this is a line that should be enforced.

 

The Post has an article about de-transitioning. Sad.
Detransitioned teens explain why they regret changing genders

 

What the article really illustrates is the danger of incompetent medical care. In the case of the first person, she was prescribed testosterone and had a double mastectomy both before the age of 16. Under the normal standards of care medical intervention should have been limited to puberty blockers, the effects of which are reversible. She also apparently shopped for willing doctors since the first doctor she saw did refuse any intervention beyond the puberty blockers. In the case of the second person, she was prescribed a high dose of testosterone and at least according to the article she had virtually no counseling prior to the medical intervention.

 

And with any luck their parents and their doctors will not allow it to happen until they of an appropriate age.

 

It's the world swimming governing body, I guess they felt it needed to be addressed.

 

As do many of the posters here. It is clear they have lost a lot of sleep over this earth shattering problem.

 

What makes you think people have lost sleep over this?
Are people posting at 0300 EST?

 

It is such a big problem. Consider this article from August 31, 1976

She suggests that in determining an athlete's sex all factors be taken into consideration, including chromosomes, bodily characteristics and the psychological state.

“I do not feel that I have an unfair advantage over other women in athletic competition,” said Dr. Richards, who is 6 feet 2 inches tall. The presence of Dr. Richards in a women's competition tends to destroy this balance.



“Women's tennis was originally conceived, as far as we are concerned, ror women tennis players,” said Jerry Diamond, executive director of the Women's Tennis Association. “Do you allow a biologic or genetic male to enter a women's tennis tournament?


“As best as I can gather from the phsysicians I talked to, the muscle structure and the density of the muscle tissue of a male are superior to a female,” he said. “There are biological differences, certain strength and speed advantages that a female doesn't have.”


nytimes.com/1976/08/31/archives/issue-and-debate-controversy-over-renee-richards-adds-dimension-to.html

Somehow we survived. There was litigation, and she won the right to compete on the women circuit. But Renee Richards did not dominate women's tennis. She was 40 years old when she transitioned, which likely limited her ability to do so, although I'm not aware of any domination even on any senior circuit, presuming such a thing existed or exists.

Just don't know how we survived it without having governors passing legislation

 

Link.

 

just wondering if you knew Renee Richard’s has since changed her position on trans females competing as females.

She's a Transgender Pioneer, But Renée Richards Prefers to Stay Out of the Spotlight | Sports Illustrated

 

"Lost a lot of sleep" is a euphemism for "thinks that this is an incredibly major problem." It's not literally about lost sleep. Sheesh.

 

I vaguely knew that but here's what I think is the significance of her example, and why I cited it. I chose my words carefully to try to make one limited point.

At the time the Richards controversy was a thing, there was great concern that it wàs more than a single case. Her example would be a precedent, leading to other biological men seeking gender reassignment or transitioning to gain that competitive advantage.

It was a big concern.

It never happened.

Sure we may need to address the still very isolated and almost freakishly rare examples when the situation comes up. Caster Semenya is still the biggest example and that's certainly not someone who chose her path.

As an occasional scenario that may arise that rules need to be drafted for, fine. Think I've been consistent on that

As some form of societal phenomenon of any significance, with men seeking an advantage in women's sports by feigning transgender identity or even immersing themselves in it for a competitive edge, I think Renee Richards' example, albeit in a different time, is telling.

In that regard, as in 1975, it's more moral panic than competitive concern.

 

That all seems fair. But transgenderism seemed pretty rare then, it seems to becoming more prevalent for various reasons we have debated. You already have Lia Thomas winning events.

I really don’t think the moral panic is people will change sexes just to win. It is more of a fairness issue. One could argue sports is trivial and unimportant yet the whole of this website shows that isn’t true. Many of us have participated in competitive sports and/or have kids that do. Countless hours of effort are expended in sports pursuits. If we feel there is cheating or the game is rigged it gets a visceral reaction.

 

Lia Thomas is the exception that proves the rule.

 

This Jon Stewart segment, really the whole episode, is everything everyone says it is.

Opinion | Jon Stewart's master class on shutting down anti-trans politicians