Transgendered Athletes in Professional Sports

[BigHairedAristocrat]

ESPN 980’s Polian and Czban have been suspended for some on-air comments they made regarding transgender issues. Check out the story here.

ESPN 980 hosts disciplined for transgender discussion

First of all, let me say that I loathe Polin and Czban. I'm sick and tired of them complaining about RGIII taking hits, and saying he should just be a drop back passer. They're morons and i'm glad they’re off the air. I cant stand listening to them. They’re comments were pretty insensitive and crude, and their suspension is deserved. That said…

Their underlying argument is interesting. Their argument is that a man, who has an operation to become a woman, should not be allowed to play in woman’s sports. In the specific case they’re talking about, its a pre-op transgender.

Now, i don’t want to turn this into a thread about gender issues or whether people think its gross, immoral, courageous, wonderful, whatever. I want to get everyone’s thoughts on whether or not its “fair” for someone who is biologically male to participate in women’s sports.

I personally don’t think it is, and only for competitive issues. There’s a reason athletics are generally segregated by gender. Generally speaking, men are typically stronger, tougher, and faster than women. Pre-op or post-op, hormones or not, the individual still has the underlying bone and muscle structure of a male. Allowing such individuals to compete against people who are biologically female gives them an unfair competitive advantage. For that reason, I don’t think they should be allowed to participate in women’s professional sports. It’s just not fair to everyone else. That’s my opinion. What’s yours?

[los panda]

while i agree w stronger and faster, i wouldn't necessarily say that men are tougher than women.

i say let them have at it.

[FRPLG]

You should play with the cards you're dealt. If you've got a man's body you should play male sports and vice versa. If you are born without legs you don't run track. It's all the same argument to me.

[DynamiteRave]

I'm hoping this thread stays civil. Lots of issues here.

Personally, when it comes to athletics, I have no problem with transgendered individuals playing on cisgendered teams. But I think all things being considered, it's probably more likely that trans-man will end up having to play on a cisgen woman's team.

I have a ridiculous amount of trans friends and I know for them, they are living their life fully as their new gender and to them, (lets say its a trans-man) being told they have to play on a woman's team is actually emasculating for them. Transpeople know that its going to be an uphill battle once they start living their life as a new gender, but they don't expect people to make provisions for them as if they can't hack it (or for trans-woman, have an extra advantage) with their cisgen counterparts.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by los panda

while i agree w stronger and faster, i wouldn't necessarily say that men are tougher than women.

i say let them have at it.

Let who have at it?

[DynamiteRave]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

You should play with the cards you're dealt. If you've got a man's body you should play male sports and vice versa. If you are born without legs you don't run track. It's all the same argument to me.

Tell that to this guy

Oscar Pistorius - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[los panda]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Let who have at it?

anyone

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by DynamiteRave

Tell that to this guy

Oscar Pistorius - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I absolutely would.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by los panda

anyone

Men in woman's sports?

[DynamiteRave]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

I absolutely would.

That's pretty horrible. I think anyone has the right to play as they want. They know the risks, advantages and disadvantages of entering such a field of work. It's as bad as saying women shouldn't be on the front lines of the military or work on submarines. Archaic thinking.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by DynamiteRave

That's pretty horrible. I think anyone has the right to play as they want. They know the risks, advantages and disadvantages of entering such a field of work. It's as bad as saying women shouldn't be on the front lines of the military or work on submarines. Archaic thinking.

He was born with an inability to run naturally. Just like I am born without the ability to throw a 97 mph fastball. But if I take steroids to enable me to do so it is cheating. If he uses man-made legs it isn't? That's not logical to me.

[DynamiteRave]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

He was born with an inability to run naturally. Just like I am born without the ability to throw a 97 mph fastball. But if I take steroids to enable me to do so it is cheating. If he uses man-made legs it isn't? That's not logical to me.

Well the runner aside, because he's in the paraolympics now... They did make a rule saying olympians have to have real legs (that's my lay way of saying it, not the pretty technical way)

I still think it's not hurting anyone if a trans gendered person plays with cisgendered people.

It's not like Kobe Bryant slapping on a wig and a dress. This is someone who's undertaken years of hormone therapy and physically and psychologically believes they are meant to be their new gender.

Topic just hits home to me because I know so many people who are transgendered and the world hasn't exactly understood or adapted to the idea that even though a man was born male, doesn't mean he is.

I understand your point though.

[MTK]

Get your popcorn ready...

Over/under on posts til this is locked?

Hmmmm

[DynamiteRave]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Get your popcorn ready...

Over/under on posts til this is locked?

Hmmmm

Won't make it past 3 pages. $5

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Get your popcorn ready...

Over/under on posts til this is locked?

Hmmmm

Post #35