The Dangers Of Transgender Athletes

Protecting Women’s Sports: The Dangers of Transgender Athletes

Female sports are a place where girls compete, develop and flourish. But now this fundamental guarantee of fair competition (and safety) is at stake. With the increasing numbers of “transgender women” A.K.A. biological males, in female athletics, have ignited controversy throughout the country. It is particularly the case in female sports, such as volleyball and swimming, where the issue has taken a more concrete turn from abstract to empirical and has real implications for women.

Volleyball: When Safety is at Stake

Volleyball players rely upon their agility and speed to win games – biological males have a big advantage in both areas thanks to their enhanced upper body strength.  In 2022, a high school volleyball player was brutally injured when she was punched in the face with a volleyball spiked by a transgender player.  The teen girl suffered profound long-term medical issues as a result of the force of the blow sustained by a biological male athlete.

Biological men – those who, even once in transition, tend to retain physical traits such as extra muscle mass, bone density and lung function – can dominate power sports such as volleyball. Not only does this imbalance betray a lack of respect for equal competition, it also poses an enormous safety issue for female athletes on the court.

Swimming: The Fight for Fairness

Swimming has also become a flashpoint in this debate. The name Lia Thomas became widely known after the transgender athlete—a biological male—dominated women’s collegiate swimming. Thomas broke records and won NCAA championships, displacing biological women from the podium and leaving them with fewer opportunities to showcase their talent.

Activists like Riley Gaines have emerged as voices of reason and courage in this debate. Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer, tied with Thomas in a race only to be told that Thomas would receive the trophy for the photo op. Gaines has since become a hero for young female athletes, speaking out boldly against the erosion of fairness in women’s sports and advocating for the protection of opportunities that Title IX was designed to ensure.

Basketball: Strength and Speed Collisions

Basketball, a contact-heavy sport, presents clear risks when biological males compete against women. The strength difference in driving to the basket or vying for rebounds can lead to dangerous collisions. For example:

• Injuries during rebounding: Female players can be pushed aside or accidentally struck with more force than their bodies are equipped to handle.
• Hard fouls: Biological males’ greater upper body strength can lead to harder fouls, increasing the risk of sprains, fractures, or concussions.

Softball: Faster Pitches, Harder Hits

When you play softball, which is a fast-moving sport in which balls are tossed and struck quickly, reaction time is critical for avoiding injury. Biological males that pitch or hit more aggressively can unintentionally harm females, particularly those in the infield. Faster pitches and harder hits increase the risk of catastrophic injuries, including broken bones, facial fractures or head trauma.

Title IX: Safeguarding Women, or Stripping Their Femininity?

Title IX, passed in 1972, guaranteed that girls and women would have equal access to college sports scholarships and access to playing on sports teams at lower levels. This powerful act of legislation created an equal playing field for decades, creating a nearly endless avenue of opportunities for female athletes. But the inclusion of biological men in women’s sports risks destroying what Title IX is meant to be all about ….creating opportunities for and protecting female athletes.

The very notion of letting biological men and boys compete in female sports undercuts the long-fought victories of female athletes and their supporter

Title IX: Protecting Women—or Undermining Them?

Title IX was enacted in 1972 to guarantee that girls and women had equal opportunities in education and sports. For decades, it succeeded in leveling the playing field, creating countless opportunities for female athletes. However, the inclusion of biological males in women’s sports threatens to unravel the very protections Title IX was intended to provide.

Allowing biological men and boys to compete in female sports undermines the hard-fought victories that female athletes and their advocates have achieved. It forces women and girls  to compete against individuals with inherent physical advantages, diminishing their chances of success and recognition.

Long-Term Consequences

The sports injuries that happen in such situations don’t simply heal – they leave scars of both the physical and mental variety. Concussions, for instance, can lead to recurring headaches, memory problems or even post-concussion syndrome. Traumatic fractures or ruptured ligaments can necessitate surgeries and lengthy rehabilitation, taking a toll on sports and education.

And there’s no denying the psychological cost of participating in a system that prizes inclusion over equity. Women athletes are often left without a voice and unable to make decisions, being subject to a system that threatens their lives and goals.

‘The Breach of Privacy and Security in Locker Rooms, Restrooms, and Showers’

Perhaps the most appalling thing about allowing biological males to play female sports is the forced consignment of private rooms, toilets and showers. These are supposed to be safe, private areas for female athletes, but the presence of biological males violates this safety and privacy, putting women and girls at real risk of suffering severe pain and injury.

Forced Exposure and Vulnerability

Imagine this: a team of female athletes has finished practice and is taking showers and changing in the locker room. Enter a natural man disguised as a woman, and the girls suddenly find themselves at the mercy of an awkward and fragile environment. People often describe being compelled to watch each other, erecting barricades out of towels or clothing as they quickly change. Athletes have gone so far as to describe these experiences as terrifying, a defiance of trust and camaraderie between teammates.

This is not just a force, it’s an assault on these young women’s self-worth and safety. Anywhere else, a man would have been arrested or sentenced to a hefty fine for stepping into a women’s room or changing room in a department store. Yet, in the name of inclusion, such behavior isn’t just tolerated in sport, it’s even defended and advocated for by far-Left activists and their mainstream media accomplices.

A Security Hazard, Not Just a Privacy Threat.

And having biological men in women’s showers and changing rooms isn’t a minor inconvenience. The risk of voyeurism or misbehavior is a good concern that cannot be ignored or minimised.

Adding to the pressure on young women to share these rooms with biological men reinforces the perception that boundaries and safety matter less than satisfying activists’ political needs. It’s a terrible message to send to young female athletes, many of whom struggle with self-esteem and are still building both their confidence and identity.

Far-Left Politicians and the Loss of Women’s Rights

Too many liberal politicians when asked to explain the definition of a woman simply do not answer the question, or simply answer it with an ideological rather than a biological explanation. The reluctance to accept reality has resulted in policies that deprive women and girls of their privacy and security. Rather than support women athletes’ rights, they promote a liberal ideology that ignores science and common sense.

Such cultural transformation, fueled by far-left activism, has left female athletes stuck in the difficult position of being told to believe what’s wrong. They are prompted to put the wellbeing of biological boys above their privacy, safety and self-respect.

Private rooms, such as locker rooms, toilets and showers, must be kept private and safe for women and girls. Policies that permit natural men into these spaces in the name of inclusion fail to acknowledge women’s basic right to feel safe and cherished.

The Need for Fairness and Safety

Girls and women shouldn’t need to sacrifice their bodies in order to play the sports they are passionate about. The current arc, in which biological men compete in female sports, not only diminishes equity, but also puts female athletes at risk of incurring unnecessary injuries.

The problem goes beyond individual sports and festivals. By letting natural males compete in women’s athletics, we tell young girls that their protection, equality and success is irrelevant to political correctness. This chills female sports participation, as girls feel demotivated or disillusioned by a system that seems to put little value on their talent and dedication.

Furthermore, the lack of a comprehensive plan for how to respond to these issues has kept schools, coaches, and athletes at a standstill. They are asking parents whether their daughters are getting a fair chance to get minutes and scholarships, and athletes such as Riley Gaines are forced to carry the weight of advocacy that is supposed to be placed on the shoulders of athletic and school boards.

A Call to Action

Promoting women’s sports isn’t about exclusion, it’s about fairness and protection. Female athletes deserve to play at the highest level, without being afraid of getting hurt or being on a low playing field.

Parents, coaches and politicians need to come together and help make Title IX live up to its ramifications. These range from unambiguous policies, that put biological truth first in sports, to safeguarding the quality of competition and the lives of female athletes.

Women’s sports should never become a space for girls to perform, compete and dream in any form.