John Oliver discusses why trans athletes seem to be at the center of U.S. politics right now, the nuances around competition and safety, where the conversation could be headed, and what The Rock would do in a barre class.
Trans Athletes: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Another excellent post, but you need time to listen to the whole rant (and a very good rant it is).
As I asked a MAGAt, one day, “Have you ever met a trans person,” he said no. So I asked, “Then why are you so upset there are trans people in the world?” He never answered me. I tried again, “Has a trans person ever you why they want to be Trans?
“Because they want to beat girls in sports when they can’t win against boys.”
My next question got him, “So you are saying girls transition to boys in order to get beaten by the boys?
He had no answer. So I went on. “Tell me. Do you really think a boy is going to become a girl just to win a race? What about when they cannot race anymore? They still have the rest of their lives to live as a girl just because they wanted to win that race? Doesn.that sound crazy to you? Who would do such a thing? Would you?” He never finished that conversation.
I can’t remember when that was, months ago at least. Then out of the blue he commented on a different blog, though I can’t remember the subject of the post, “See, you guys and I have something in common!””
Too bad my memory is so deteriorating. But he was now looking not to argue about, but to find something to agree on. Step 1.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for that comment rawgod. I recall all the controversy over Laurel Hubbard and claims that she transitioned in order to win, because she couldn’t do as a man. The facts tell a very different story. When competing as a male Hubbard held multiple national records that stood for many years. Hubbard gave up weightlifting because of “toxic masculinity” within the sport.
The problem with “Trans bans” is that they negatively affect more cis women than trans women because not every person asigned female at birth conforms to their society’s understanding of what female physical appearance should be, or what is considered socially acceptable female behaviour.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As rawgod mentions it’s necessary to listen to the entire video. I’m not sure that I would describe it as a rant, rather as a passionate call to reason. There may be some question around elite sports, and even I as a passionate defender of human rights am prepared to admit it’s not all black and white, but when it comes to people enjoying sports, especially at junior levels, gender is a non-issue. Let kids be kids.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you have that backwards, Barry. Or maybe I am just not understanding what you are trying to say. Ciswomen (hetero or bi) are only affected by Trans Bans if they choose to be affected. In truth what a Trans woman does or does not do has no effect at all on anyone except themselves. Ciswomen were born with woman parts and they identify as women. A trans woman was born male with male parts who transitions to female parts because she does not feel like a man.
I guess they could feel asexual. I met a woman like that once. Her interest in sex was non-existent, although that may have changed later in her life.
I am thinking you already knew all this but had verbal/typing dyslexia. i often do that.
LikeLike