"Why can't we have a calm conversation over trans athletes in sports?"
I can think of a few reasons.
And while some of you may not have directly thrown gas on the fire, you really didn't do anything to cut it off or replace it with anything productive.
Now that so many of you are being consumed in the fire of your making, rightfully so might I add, you want to sit there and play victim. I'm not having it. Let it burn.
A. The conversation started with panic and hysteria.
Um, no it didn't. Other than Fishy, a vast majority of us here on USCHO have respectfully brought up the issue. You just choose to forget that when it comes up. Yes, it's a tough question, but it needs to be asked.
B. The thoughts, feelings, and experiences of trans athletes have either been minimized or disregarded entirely.
How so? Again, here at USCHO comments from Lia and others have been posted. No one here other than the usual suspects instantly disregarded them. Again, you're putting us all in the same bin as MAGAs when this couldn't be further from the truth. As UNO said, however, some here seem to think anyone to the Left of Bernie is a MAGA.
C. Successful trans athletes, such as Lia, were quickly demonized.
Again, other than FISHY, who did that here? I don't care what happened outside USCHO on this point. You hold the actions of Fox News and the like against the people here, despite all of us obviously constantly calling them out on their BS. Who here has said derogatory things about Lia? Who here made inappropriate comments? Who brought up anything other than evidence relevant to the case at hand? Elaborate on the demonization that you are claiming, cause I don't believe there has been much, if any on USCHO.
D. Lack of solutions other than "keep em out" or "can't they form their own league?"
I've posted several possible solutions (for "Elite" athletes (NCAA and up), High School, and recreational play). Each level has it's own nuance and what is feasible/capable. Specifically I have asked several times for YOU to give a counter to my reasoning around HS athletes. Specifically the fact that many of these athletes are very much their biological gender (meaning no hormone therapy) and most have recently come to terms with who they are and accepted that. As much as you have a problem acknowledging it, at this level, there is the legitimate question as to one's physical makeup and how that comes into play with the game.
You've never responded to these requests really. You've mentioned Lia's case a few times. But the stringent control in her case (that she passed) can't be applied at the amateur and/or HS level. How do you apply the transition process here? The timeframe of HS sports doesn't allow the 2-4 year process that is used in "elite" competition. Also, who here has legitimately questioned the "elite" process? No one who is legitimately asking has questioned the Lia's of the world. We are asking about lower levels.
E. There was no real effort to cut the panic and hysteria off early.
What do you want from us here on USCHO? I feel that this has been a fairly open and supportive group of regular posters as a whole. If we are really as horrible as you make us out to be, why do you still come here? You're making this seem like the Caf? is a Truth Social comments section. You know damn well it's not. Yes, there are some knuckleheads who have come and gone. But they have been pushed out by many posters who have called them out on their BS. So again, what do you want from the Message Board here? What can we do that we aren't already doing to help the cause?
F.. The rhetoric has largely been "Keep Trans Katie off the track team because she might hurt Cis Susie."
And your counter to this has been "F_ck YOUR feelings Susie!". Again, very MAGA in the style. Again, there are legitimate questions that apply at the Local/Amatuer level. You want to ignore the legitimate biological differences that are present in these circumstances. Honestly, no one cares if a trans athlete finishes 7th in a field of 18 at a HS duel meet where the winning time was easily off of state qualifying pace. But that question absolutely comes into play when the same athlete comes in 1st at a large invitational where the top 10 is all UNDER the standard time to qualify for the state meet.
"The Sports team didn't sports hard enough. They need to sports harder next time" is a basic summary of commentary you've made several times over years on various topics. This kind of hints that you're someone who isn't super deep into sports. Not exactly a position someone who wants to dismiss the feelings of people deeply invested into sports should really be in. This shows that you really don't completely understand the emotional investment people place on sports. There is a lot of nuance here that you don't seem to grasp. Not all of it is the Toxic Masculinity spouted by MAGAs. Especially in the crowd here.
JJ has posted his thoughts as a father for a daughter who plays. UNO as a husband whose wife competes. Why do you instantly dismiss their feelings? Are they not legitimate? It's not the disagreement that is the problem here. It's the instant dismissal.
G. Silence while state governments have authorized genital inspections of teenagers.
Who here on USCHO said that this was acceptable? Again, what do you want us to do? Do you want us to all fly down to Austin, OKC, Tallahassee, or whatever backwater Red State has authorized this behavior and protest in front of their capital? IL hasn't passed any such legislation, but as an active, year round HS official, you can be damn sure I'll be supportive on that front if it comes up before me.
I truly don't understand what you want from us here. Again, USCHO seems to have been a very supportive and open community. If you truly believe this, why do you come back? You make us seem like a wretched, toxic clan. I truly don't believe that. If we come off that way, I truly believe that we are doing it intentionally and we truly don't want to be received this way. Help us understand why you want to cast us in this nature.
