Olympic-sized battle looms over transgender athletes at Tokyo games

[HARK!]

“I’m quite disappointed, quite disappointed for the female athlete who will lose out on that spot,” former weightlifter Tracey Lambrechs told TVNZ. “We’re all about equality for women in sport, but right now that equality is being taken away from us.”

She said women who do voice objections to competing against Ms. Hubbard, who competed on the men’s side as Gavin Hubbard before transitioning in 2013, are silenced.

“I’ve had female weightlifters come up to me and say, ‘What do we do? This isn’t fair, what do we do?’” Ms. Lambrechs said. “Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do because every time we voice it, we get told to be quiet.”

Olympic-sized battle looms over transgender athletes at Tokyo games

I grieves my heart that the hard work and dreams of these women, are being stolen from them.

 

[*Starlight*]

It's just a really difficult situation, with no clear cut answer.

With current technology, perfect transition isn't possible, so when someone transitions from one sex to the other, they'd probably be somewhere in between when it comes to abilities like physical strength. So technically, it wouldn't be really fair to put them in either category in sports, but they're also not common enough to create a third category just for them. On the other hand, not allowing them to participate in competitions at all would be unfair towards them too.

 

[Lost4words]

World gone bonkers

 

[HARK!]

It's just a really difficult situation, with no clear cut answer.

With current technology, perfect transition isn't possible, so when someone transitions from one sex to the other, they'd probably be somewhere in between when it comes to abilities like physical strength. So technically, it wouldn't be really fair to put them in either category in sports, but they're also not common enough to create a third category just for them. On the other hand, not allowing them to participate in competitions at all would be unfair towards them too.

It's really not difficult at all. Women are prohibited from taking steroids to compete with men. Allowing men to take drugs to compete with women is a sexist double standard.

 

[rturner76]

So much confusion......They should go by chromosome instead of a genital package comparison. Men produce testosterone it makes you more athletic and they were producing it for decades before he became a she. Unfair testosterone advantage.

Let's just go back to if you are a trans be a drag queen or dancer, not an Olympic athlete. Their body is a hybrid so not of either gender but they are one sex. Go by sex not gender.

 

[Pommer]

Why never a transgender accountant thread?

 

[iluvatar5150]

I grieves my heart that the hard work and dreams of these women, are being stolen from them.

I don't believe for one second that you or anybody else expressing similar concern has, as your/their primary motivation, the welfare of athletes and the fairness of their competition. I wish you guys would stop obfuscating your real thoughts and motivations and just say them.

 

[HARK!]

I don't believe for one second that you or anybody else expressing similar concern has, as your/their primary motivation, the welfare of athletes and the fairness of their competition. I wish you guys would stop obfuscating your real thoughts and motivations and just say them.

Uh-oh! The thought police are here!

I didn't realize that you were capable of expressing my thoughts better than I.

I beg that you honor us with your gift of telling us what my "real" thoughts are?

How dare I speak for myself!

I thank you for your mercy in not subjecting me to a shout down, for recklessly exercising free speech that contradicts what I was told to think.

 

[DerSchweik]

< snip >
Let's just go back to if you are a [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] be a drag queen or dancer, not an Olympic athlete. Their body is a hybrid so not of either gender but they are one sex. Go by sex not gender.

Um... hints that an edit is in order. (Just sayin...)

 

[rturner76]

Um... hints that an edit is in order. (Just sayin...)

Wow 8 "bless and do not curse for saying the nickname for trans people. Very offensive.

 

[SilverBear]

So much confusion......They should go by chromosome instead of a genital package comparison. Men produce testosterone it makes you more athletic and they were producing it for decades before he became a she. Unfair testosterone advantage.

Let's just go back to if you are a trans be a drag queen or dancer, not an Olympic athlete. Their body is a hybrid so not of either gender but they are one sex. Go by sex not gender.

Rules for transgender athletes have been in place for the Olympics for years. The International Olympic Committee allows transgender female athletes to compete in the Games if they reduce their serum testosterone levels below 1.0 nanomoles per liter for a year and maintain the lower levels during their careers. This level is slightly lower than the average cisgender female Olympic athlete who has a the general testosterone range of 1.2 to 1.79 nanomoles per liter,

 

[Ana the Ist]

It's just a really difficult situation, with no clear cut answer.

With current technology, perfect transition isn't possible, so when someone transitions from one sex to the other, they'd probably be somewhere in between when it comes to abilities like physical strength. So technically, it wouldn't be really fair to put them in either category in sports, but they're also not common enough to create a third category just for them. On the other hand, not allowing them to participate in competitions at all would be unfair towards them too.

I don't like it either but I think it's fair to at least reject athletes taking steroids or hormones.

If they meet that requirement we can place them in one category or the other based on primary sex characteristics. If they wish to be called by a certain pronoun or name...I think those wishes should be respected.

 

[Ana the Ist]

I don't believe for one second that you or anybody else expressing similar concern has, as your/their primary motivation, the welfare of athletes and the fairness of their competition.

Fairness of the competition has always been a concern for the Olympics.

The testing for steroids and other enhancing drugs has been extensive and continually updated.

What would the point of that be if not fairness?

 

[Aryeh Jay]

My personal feeling is that all genetically and chemically enhanced athletes should compete as the gender the medical personnel assigned them at birth.

 

[Ana the Ist]

My personal feeling is that all genetically and chemically enhanced athletes should compete as the gender the medical personnel assigned them at birth.

I'm a bit curious if anyone would be in favor in eliminating the division between athletes entirely.

We could just have women and men competing together....and sure, there probably wouldn't be many non-men on any teams...the exception being sports where one performs a routine or skill like archery, gymnastics, or diving and the permance itself is scored.

 

[Ana the Ist]

I don't believe for one second that you or anybody else expressing similar concern has, as your/their primary motivation, the welfare of athletes and the fairness of their competition. I wish you guys would stop obfuscating your real thoughts and motivations and just say them.

I suppose this would be an easier conversation if people would just say...

"I hate women's sports and I would like to see them destroyed by allowing men to play."

 

[Ana the Ist]

I think the funniest part of this discussion is the side that constantly complains about a "level playing field" whenever the discussion involves economics, or education, or jobs....

Suddenly that side doesn't care at all about a 'level playing field" when we're actually talking about a playing field and fairness.

 

[disciple Clint]

It's just a really difficult situation, with no clear cut answer.

With current technology, perfect transition isn't possible, so when someone transitions from one sex to the other, they'd probably be somewhere in between when it comes to abilities like physical strength. So technically, it wouldn't be really fair to put them in either category in sports, but they're also not common enough to create a third category just for them. On the other hand, not allowing them to participate in competitions at all would be unfair towards them too.

why would it be unfair to them, they are making a decision that they know has some consequences, why do we need to be unfair to many people to accommodate the options of someone who is making a personal decision.

 

[Ana the Ist]

why would it be unfair to them, they are making a decision that they know has some consequences, why do we need to be unfair to many people to accommodate the options of someone who is making a personal decision.

What decision are you referring to here?

Does a trans person have to transition to be considered trans by the Olympics?

 

[disciple Clint]

What decision are you referring to here?

Does a trans person have to transition to be considered trans by the Olympics?

Now that is an interesting question. I was assuming (and yes I know what happens when we do that) the medical procedure had been done.