Thread: Transgender Weightlifter Killing it

I find the transgender discussion intriguing.

Personally, I don't have issues regarding people by the gender they identify with or modifying themselves physically to feel more comfortable in their skin; if someone tells me she is a woman, I assume she knows.

By my interactions with transgender people and reading on the subject, I feel that it's a good thing that more and more gender is being regarded as being determined by what's between your ears much more than by what's between your legs.

This also goes for the clearer distinction between gender and sexual preference; I have an acquaintance who is transgender male (i.e. female-to-male) and romantically inclined towards men. After a bit of pondering on the subject, it made perfect sense to me.

In most aspects, such as legal (adoption, marriage, etc.), having children I'm all for absolute equality, irrespective of someone's gender identity, sexual orientation, skin colour, religion, whathaveyounot.

I do however feel like a discussion with regards to physical competition is relevant. I also don't believe transgender people can be physically on the same level as the gender they aim for.

Then again, testosterone levels (and other biological qualities) fluctuate within biological genders as well, giving some men a clear advantage over other men in competitive sports.

See, interesting.

Oh, another thing I learned from interacting with and reading about transgender people: it's not a sudden decision. More often than not it is the culmination of a life-long identity crisis. Pre-transformation transgender people apparently have a significantly above average risk of substance abuse and other self-destructive behaviour. I'm pretty sure most of them don't "do it" for kicks, being cool or for becoming top ranking athletes.

Also, there are very many unnatural things that are everyday reality: breast implants, GMO crops, animal breeding, medical engineering, honing on stones made from synthetic materials. Apparently, YMMV.

Originally Posted by Pithor

I do however feel like a discussion with regards to physical competition is relevant. I also don't believe transgender people can be physically on the same level as the gender they aim for.

I think it's more of an all or nothing thing. What you're saying can be viewed as selective discrimination. A similar scenario I envision would be a group of biological females who decide to form a club of some sort perhaps in addition to being female, also share a common experience of childbirth. Transgender proponents and supporters would most likely cry foul if such a group didn't want a biological male identifying as a woman in the group.

I'm actually surprised that there has not been more of a public assertion by biological females who have given birth as to uniqueness of such an experience which, like it or not, absolutely excludes biological males in any form from identifying with said experience. I recall when my wife, who with one of our children was in labor for 35 hours read that the musician Sheryl Crow who adopted or had a surrogate give birth said something to the effect of: "When we gave birth to.....". My wife's reaction was pretty visceral: "Um, YOU didn't give birth to anyone there, Sheryl!". I'm sure an argument could be raised that there are many biological females who don't give birth and no less a woman for not doing so. I guess my point is childbirth is real and unique and can't be identified with unless you're a biological woman who has given birth....

I recall reading some things after that woman's march in the U.S. that some biological women were not accepting of transgender males identifying as women joining the march for the cause of women.