During my time here on DU - which dates back further than when I first posted, and far further back from signing up - I've heard how transwomen need to do without this or do without that because, goddamnit, giving them equal rights and fair treatment would be unfair to ciswomen.
If we let trans people use the restrooms of their choice, it "makes it easier for men to sexually assault women."
If we let young trans people start therapy, it's "dangerous!" They're "too young" to make that kind of decision! OMG! TRANSITION REGRET!!!!!
We can't let Lia Thomas, despite her testosterone level being underneath the legal limit, swim because... BROAD SHOULDERS! 462 TO 1! SHE'S BREAKING RECORDS AND THESE POOR CISWOMEN CAN'T COMPETE!!!
Do you know what has been blowing up my news feed for days now, despite avoiding the Olympics like the plague? Kamila Valieva.
Kamila has tested positive for several drugs, and has been classified as a doper. She's pulled off feats unheard of, and is destroying the competition. And in her case, this is NOT allowed under any rules. She's failed drug tests. She has doped. She has cheated. She has thrown fair play and competition out the window - not from "chromosomes" or transitioning, but the use of illegal, performance enhancing drugs.
Do you know how many of the "protect cisgender female athletes" I've heard speak up against this blatant display of doping and cheating?
ZERO.
Every fucking time the issue of trans equality comes up, I listen as the same people speak up about how we need to stop this, block that, do this and disallow that, because if this is allowed, it will hurt cisgender women. Won't someone think of the ciswomen?
Right before your very eyes (all due apologies, Peter Cetera). Right here, with the whole world watching... A cisgender woman has just stomped all over fair play and the rules. She "won", the same way Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens "won". She deprived other women of a chance to win, by taking drugs she was not allowed to take.
Do you know what I hear? Crickets. None of you have spoken up. None of you have fought back for the skaters that Kamila Valieva crushed. None of you have screamed "UNFAIR ADVANTAGE!!!!" You've sat back and let this unfold because... Kamila has the right chromosomes. Because she's a real woman with XX chromosomes, there's no issue with her becoming the female Ivan Drago to win.
This isn't about sports or fair play. It's just discrimination. And saying that may upset you, but, the truth sometimes does that. But the reality is this: If you cared about fairness in sports, you'd be more upset over doping than gender reassignment.
If I had a daughter, and she had to swim against Lia Thomas, assuming she complied by the rules and had a legal testosterone level? I'd tell her "All you can do is do your best. And the say rule in life is sometimes someone is better than you."
But if that same daughter had to skate against Kamila Valieva? "This isn't fair. Sometimes in life you win. Sometimes in life you lose. But when they cheat to beat you, they've cheated the entire game, and no one deserves that."
So, if you have a problem with Lia, but you're fine with Kamila? You're not speaking up for equality... You just hate transwomen.
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