TRANSGENDERS ARE NOT WOMEN

BY SNN.BZ STAFF

The Debate Over Fairness in Sports: Why Men Cannot Compete in Women’s Sports Is a Real Discussion. Using the expression “Transgender Women” alone, does not make them “women.” They’re Still Men!

The controversy surrounding transgender athletes and their participation in women’s sports has become a focal point of heated discussions all over the world. One of the most pressing concerns centers around the inherent physical differences between babies who were born male at birth and babies who were born female at birth. Stop trying to be “hip” and “accepted” and apply common sense instead.

These differences, largely due to the hormonal and physiological changes that occur during puberty, always gives men who transition from male to female an unfair advantage when competing in women’s sports. This issue has become particularly contentious in light of recent political and legal developments, including President Trump’s call for Maine Governor Janet Mills to apologize for defying his executive order banning transgender/male athletes from competing in women’s sports.

The Biological Disparity

At the heart of the debate is the biological disparity between men and women, particularly when it comes to physical strength, endurance, and athletic performance. Individuals who are born male at birth typically experience puberty-induced changes that result in increased muscle mass, bone density, and cardiovascular capacity. These changes are driven by higher levels of testosterone, the hormone responsible for the development of male secondary sexual characteristics, including larger muscles and greater lung capacity.

In contrast, born female at birth experience the effects of progesterone and estrogen, which contribute to the development of a typically leaner body with less muscle mass and greater fat storage.

Impact of Testosterone on Athletic Performance

Testosterone plays a key role in the development of strength and stamina, two critical components in most sports. For example, studies have shown that men, even those who have not trained extensively, tend to have significantly higher muscle mass and greater strength than women. This physical advantage is crucial in many competitive sports, such as track and field, weightlifting, and team sports like basketball or football, where speed, power, and agility are critical to success.

When transgender men—individuals who were assigned male at birth but transition to female—compete in women’s sports, they often retain the physical advantages associated with male puberty, despite undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to reduce their testosterone levels. Although HRT can lower testosterone, it does not fully reverse the physical changes that occurred during male puberty, such as larger skeletal structures, broader shoulders, and greater muscle mass.

The Case Against Transgender Men in Women’s Sports

Advocates for keeping transgender men out of women’s sports argue that, even with hormone therapy, the physiological advantages accumulated during male puberty can provide transgender men with an unfair edge over cisgender women. This is particularly concerning when transgender women compete in elite-level athletics or in high school and collegiate sports, where scholarships and opportunities for advancement are at stake.

The primary issue is that sports competition is designed to be fair and equitable, with divisions based on sex to ensure that athletes compete against others with similar physiological characteristics. Allowing individuals who were biologically male to compete in women’s sports may undermine this fairness, as the innate advantages conferred by male puberty can skew results.

Supporters of a ban on men in women’s sports emphasize that fairness is not about discrimination, but rather about ensuring that athletic competitions are based on a level playing field. When athletes are competing in categories designated for women, the natural expectation is that they share certain physiological traits. Allowing individuals who have undergone male puberty to compete with females reduces opportunities for women to excel in their chosen sports.

Scientific Research and Policy Decisions

Scientific studies have examined the impact of male puberty on athletic performance, with a clear consensus emerging that physical advantages such as muscle mass, size, and strength contribute to superior performance in many sports. A review published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine noted that even after transgender men undergo hormone therapy, their muscle mass, cardiovascular capacity, and physical advantage persist, to some extent, despite the reduction in testosterone levels.

This has prompted many to question whether it is truly fair to allow transgender men to compete against cisgender women. Some sports organizations, such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), have implemented guidelines for the inclusion of transgender athletes. However, these guidelines vary widely and do not always address the inherent physical differences that persist even after hormone therapy.

A Broader Debate on Equality and Fairness

The conversation surrounding transgender athletes and women’s sports is multifaceted. On one hand, supporters of transgender rights argue that individuals should be allowed to compete according to their gender identity, as part of a broader movement toward inclusivity and equality. On the other hand, critics believe that fairness in competition is being compromised when physical differences that confer advantages are ignored as if they do not exist.

President Trump’s recent demand for an apology from Maine Governor Janet Mills, who defied his executive order banning transgender (male) athletes from competing in women’s sports, highlights the increasing political polarization of the issue. The dispute underscores the ongoing national debate about how to balance the rights of transgender men with the need to maintain fair competition in women’s sports.

Conclusion

The question of whether transgender men should be allowed to compete in women’s sports is a simple one based in common sense.

While the rights of men or women who have transitioned to the opposite sex cannot be guaranteed, there is also a need to ensure that athletic competition remains fair for all participants.

The physical advantages associated with male puberty—such as muscle mass, bone density, and endurance—cannot be fully eliminated by hormone replacement therapy, which raises concerns about the fairness of allowing transgender men to compete in women’s sports.

The debate is abating and it is essential to consider both the rights of male and female individuals and the need for fair, equitable competition in sports. The conversation will likely evolve as more research is conducted and as sports organizations refine their policies to address these concerns.

When a man that grew up as a male and his testosterone naturally built up his shoulders, torso and legs with greater mass and muscle strength, yet he wants to compete with girls half his size and strength, the problem is not the physical difference. The problem is based in the fact that some large males consider it normal to compete with females half their strength, size and muscularity. That’s not a rights issue – that’s a mental health issue.

Transgenders are less than 1% of the American population. We can never again allow the tail to wag the dog.

Imane Khelif was proven to be a man. On return to Algeria, he’s living as a man because women have no authority in Algeria or anywhere in the Middle East.