Women are entitled to equal opportunities: we must support biological female athletes

Mansplainers are missing the biggest takeaway from evaluating the women’s basketball finals, which dominated the men’s game. Not that a unicorn athlete’s back made that possible. I have long believed in the appeal of female athletes. Women’s gymnastics has been the most-watched sport at the Summer Olympics for decades.

While the rest of the nation is waking up to the unfulfilled potential of women’s sports on its own merits, a culture of disrespect for female athletes continues and, worse, it leaves us open to attack. should be aware that it is being done. Women’s scholarships are being lost, sports team spots are being lost at the highest levels of sports, and women’s safety is at risk. And it’s all in the name of false inclusion.

But policies that allow transgender female athletes to compete in women’s sports are based on the lie that there is no difference between male and female bodies. That men are not stronger or faster than women. If this lie is followed through, there will be no gender-based categories in sports.

This issue should not be controversial. It should not be partisan. But it happened. Trans activists argue that allowing trans women to participate in women’s sports should be done in the name of kindness, and that the number of participating athletes is so small that it is impossible to bring about change. ing.

they are wrong it makes a difference. There are countless examples (nearly 600) of transgender athletes competing and winning in women’s sports. And women can be injured playing basketball, volleyball, and rugby.

Young women who see this unfair development will eventually leave the sport. Why bother competing when you know you’re likely to lose? We can’t allow this to happen. Women have fought too hard for recognition, respect, and a level playing field.

But politically, standing up can be a dangerous play. If you stand up for women in women’s sports, you will be vilified as transphobic. A small group of very vocal bullying activists made a point of shutting down any talk of women being treated fairly.

In the House, the Protecting Women and Girls in Sports Act generally preserves the integrity of athletic programs for women and girls, defined as their biological sex at birth.

Specifically, this bill would strengthen Title IX of the Education Reform Act of 1972. Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs, including public elementary and secondary schools and universities. Under the bill, gender is based on an individual’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth. Because that’s the truth.

Only Republicans supported the bill. Not a single Democrat voted in favor of the bill. This infuriates me, a lifelong Democrat and former NOW intern. This bill is simple common sense and should have broad support regardless of political party.

The same bill has been introduced in the Senate, with only Republican support. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) said: They don’t believe in this, but they follow the party line. And this isn’t about politics. This is either right or wrong. ”

After all, 51 Senate Democrats voted to block protections for women and girls in the sports law, and I, along with my friend Sage Steele, asked this question. Why has this become a political issue?

Women’s health and safety are too important to turn this issue into a political game. A majority of Americans agree that women’s sports need to be protected. But most people are afraid of speaking out and being vilified as bigots.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has proven that it is not afraid to speak up for women. The council voted unanimously to allow only biological female athletes to participate in women’s sports. Anyone can participate in the men’s category.

While the NAIA can advocate for the fairness of competition, other higher-stakes levels, such as the U.S. Olympic Committee and governing bodies such as USA Gymnastics and USA Boxing, are moving in the opposite direction.

As a former national gymnastics champion and a Democrat for decades, I am determined not to remain silent.

Politics is downstream from culture, and now radical left activists are using movies, music, and brand messages to slip into legislative agendas that demean ordinary women like me.

I am principled, not partisan. And the truth is more important than anything else.

The truth is, men and women are different. And women deserve safety, fairness, and privacy. Women should be given equal opportunities. Women have the right to compete. And women deserve a chance to win.

Jennifer Say is an American author, filmmaker, executive, gymnast, and founder and CEO of XX-XY Athletics.