Athletes Demand NCAA Act on Anti-Trans Legislation

submitted by Rationalmind from si.com

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[–]BEB 9 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 0 fun10 insightful - 1 fun -  (7 children)

What a fucking piece of propaganda. As a former university athlete myself, I was blind with rage as I read this, so correct me if I'm wrong, but the article slips in a brief mention that trans athletes are not actually banned from competing, just that they will not be allowed to compete based on gender identity.

After that the article reverts to the "TRANS KIDS BANNED FROM COMPETING!!!" lie that is being propagated all over the place, especially the media, much like the "TRANSGENDERS BANNED FROM THE MILITARY!!!" lie.

There are probably tens of thousands of college athletes, so a few hundred athletes is no big deal, but the fact that SPORTS ILLUSTRATED makes it seem as if it's one, and also doesn't refute any of the lies told, is further proof that this whole gender thing is way more sinister and powerful than any of us can imagine.

[–]Rationalmind[S] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

You should write to them and give them your feedback. I was always too petite to play team sports so have no personal knowledge in which to speak from.

[–]BEB 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

I've called the NCAA and given them an earful. Time to do it again. Also, time to contact women I was on the team with and tell them about this fuckery.

[–]Rationalmind[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Those are good people and organizations to contact!

[–]BEB 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I've also talked to my university, but it's time to call it again too. Those of us who are in a position to speak out (and I know that's not many of us and understand) cannot remain silent

[–]jjdub7Gay Male Guest Commentator 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

I'd imagine it would be even worse in solo sports. Golf and tennis come to mind.

[–]MarkTwainiac 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

The legislation at issue here pertains exclusively to scholastic sports in the US, and the NCAA governs scholastic & interscholastic sports only (at the college/uni level). If/when schools in the US have golf & tennis programs, they have teams - and all the athletes compete as members of a team. Same goes for many others sports that are often involve individuals competing against other individuals like like sailing, skiing, skating, gymnastics & track & field.

Usually, if an athlete's focus is solely on competing in a sport as an individual, he or she will not be involved in scholastic programs for that sport - he or she will pursue the sport outside a school setting, which is something many students in a variety of sports do and always have done. So far as I know, schools in the US that get federal funding are not required to fund or provide, nor do they typically fund or provide, sports programs for individuals who want to train & participate only as individuals.

[–]jjdub7Gay Male Guest Commentator 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Right about the teams for even individual sports, that's true. I was more commenting on the nature of team-play sports at least being able to dissipate the advantage somewhat.

I used to play tennis myself, and since the legendary Battle of the Sexes with Billie Jean King, its been pretty well-understood that it takes exceptional female talent to make up for the sex differential in the sport. Serena Williams would likely not stand a chance against any men in the world's Top 100-200, all of whom likely serve at 30-40 mph faster than her due to the difference in fast-twitch muscle fiber composition.

There's simply no amount of practice or training that would allow her to close that gap, either.