Originally Posted by
DondyDan
I'm not Mason but I'll jump in here as I share the view that trans men and women should be afforded equal rights to live their lives as they feel comfortable, as long as they aren't hurting anyone else.
The debate of a man transitioning to a woman and competing in sport is, for me, a very tricky one (although you and DD will claim it is black and white). There will obviously be areas of their physical and biologial development, such as testoterone levels and muscle mass, that could give them an unfair advantage. However, there is (very valid) science to prove this is not the case, and that men who have transitioned and received testosterone lowering treatment have not performed any better.
However, this are needs a lot more research as, in my opinion, there needs to be a levelness to that playing field when being permitted to compete. But I believe they deserve the opportunity to live their lives without prejudice.
However, what will not happen (and what the whole knickers in a twist brigade seem to think will happen) is men transitioning purely so they can win medals (like s*x offenders transitioning purely so they can have easier access to prey). Would perennial runner up Linford Christie transition so he could win Olympic gold? Of course not. There are very complex reasons that make people want to transition, and a gold medal isn't one of them.
The other issue it opens up is if women with unnaturally high levels of testorterone should be able to compete. If you ask me, of course they should. Take Caster Semenya. She was born with all the woman's bits (as DD would describe it) but she (reportedly) has a male level of testosterone that many people call for her to be banned for because "she isn't a woman". People need to make there minds up. Is someone a woman because of "bits", or a woman because of other biological factors? Or does this brigade just apply whichever rule suits their current, anti anyone who doesn't fit their mould, agenda.
So should they be able to compete. If science proves they don't have an unfair advantage - yes, of course. One for the scientists who actually know what they are talking about. I for one would like to see the science prove there is no real advantage once and for all, and to live in a world where people can be people.
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