Doctor Says There's No Evidence Trans Girls Perform Better in Sports Than Cisgender Girls
Doctor Says There's No Evidence Trans Girls Perform Better in Sports Than Cisgender Girls
Since Caitlyn Jenner made some very controversial comments about how transgender girls shouldn't be allowed to compete in sports, a doctor has come forward with claims that there is no evidence that trans girls perform better than cisgender girls...
And it's sparked quite the debate online.
Here's the full story...
Now, Caitlyn Jenner is a firm figure in the global transgender community.
The former athlete and Keeping Up With The Kardashian's star first announced she would be beginning her gender transition back in 2015 - and she even launched her own reality show titled I Am Cait, chronicling her journey throughout her transition.
2 years later, in true Kardashian-Jenner fashion, she went public on the cover of Vanity Fair.
She underwent her final operation - the gender-reassignment surgery - in 2017.
In her debut Vanity Fair interview as Caitlyn, she explained how liberating it felt to finally be open as a woman:
"I have nothing left to hide. I am kind of a free person, a free soul. Up to this point, I would wear, you know, Bruce would wear sweatshirts with hoods on them so paparazzi can't get pictures and all that kind of crap."
It's been almost 6 years since Caitlyn came out as transgender...
And there's no denying how far she's come since!
Cait prides herself on using her celebrity status to spread a positive message of tolerance...
And she's super passionate about being an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community... especially when it comes to transgender children.
But last week, Cait opened up about the controversial debate surrounding transgender girls and women competing in sports...
And she claimed she does not believe they should be allowed to compete.
She says it's due to "fairness."
Caitlyn, who is currently running for governor in California, told a TMZ reporter on Saturday that it's "a question of fairness."
"That's why I oppose biological boys who are trans competing in girls' sports in school. It just isn't fair. And we have to protect girls' sports in our schools."
It was Caitlyn's first comment on the issue since announcing her candidacy to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, in a recall election...
I didn’t expect to get asked this on my Saturday morning coffee run, but I’m clear about where I stand. It’s an issue of fairness and we need to protect girls’ sports in our schools.https://t.co/YODLDQ3csP
— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) May 1, 2021
And she's certainly ruffled a few feathers.
People were left feeling furious, to say the least.
Cait... this ain’t it. When you’re on hormones and or blockers there is not an advantage. I ran track at the club level with college girls and trust me there is no advantage. I would have went pro if I was able to run the times I ran before hormones etc.
— Trace Lysette (@tracelysette) May 2, 2021
Girls belong in girls sports. Trans girls are girls. There is NO evidence of trans girls outperforming their cis peers. There is only evidence of them being harassed and harmed by their peers. Drop this, develop your hobbies and spend your time NOT doing harm to trans people.
— Sanjati 🔮🎮 streaming OUTRIDERS (@stefsanjati) May 1, 2021
There is substantial evidence that there is absolutely zero advantage and even if there were it's pretty clear athletes in school programs are there to socialize and not be the most competitive in their field.
— August Fresnel (@AugustFresnel) May 2, 2021
I’m on puberty blockers, so that means I’ve not had puberty. I actually have a disadvantage in both sports here. What Caitlyn’s idea for that? I’d probably get hurt in boys sport at school but girls I’d just lose but be safe, what’s her idea?
— Jade Gets Deja Vu (Taylor’s Version) (@WhovianJade) May 2, 2021
But on the other hand, many agreed with Caitlyn's views on the matter.
Good for her.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 2, 2021
Courageous and correct.
If anyone understands how unfair it is, then it's surely @Caitlyn_Jenner.
Yet she will be new be destroyed by the trans lobby for stating the obvious. https://t.co/WfPkQlmAR6
I agree with Caitlin Jenner that athletes born male should not compete against girls in sports.
— BoomerGirl1951 🇺🇸LOVE❤️the ☮️TRUTH🇺🇸✌️⚖️😷🇺🇸 (@BoomerGirl1951) May 2, 2021
Athletes born female could compete against boys because girls are not usually born physically stronger than boys
Nature, not nurture makes us different
Objectively speaking… there is literally no one more qualified than @Caitlyn_Jenner to speak on trans girls in girls sports. You can disagree and/or rebut, but to dismiss her comments is ignorant and selective bigotry.
— Joey Jones (@Johnny_Joey) May 3, 2021
SEE COMMON SENSE? ITS NOT HARD PEOPLE, FAIR IS FAIR!!!! ITS LIKE RACING A HORSE AND A DONKEY AND THINKING THAT THE DONKEY HAS A CHANCE?
— VETERANS 4 TRUMP (@VETERANS4TRUMP1) May 1, 2021
Absolutely agree!! I was a top female athlete when I was young.. fasted girl in my school, but definitely not as fast as the boys. I would have been SO pissed to go to state finals and be beat by a boy that identifies as a girl! It’s simply not fair.
— spymom (@spymom10) May 1, 2021
And now, a doctor has spoken out about the controversy and has pretty much debunked Caitlyn's claims.
Dr. Veronica Ivy is a transgender athlete, activist, and associate professor of philosophy at the College of Charleston... and she caused a lot of anger in 2018 when she became the first transgender world track cycling champion by placing first at the UCI Women's Masters Track World Championship.
Because Veronica transitioned later into adulthood...
Many slammed her for being at a "huge advantage" physically in comparison to her female competitors.
Veronica has decided to speak out on TMZ Live about Caitlyn's stance on trans girls competing in sports...
And she's said that there is absolutely no evidence that suggests transgender girls perform better than cisgender girls.
"It actually wasn't until recently that we finally studied whether there was a relationship between your natural, internal testosterone that has not been altered and your sport performance," Veronica explained.
She insisted there is no relationship at all between testosterone and sports performance.
"It wasn't until 2017 that we finally learned that there is no relationship between your natural, unaltered, internal testosterone and your sports performance... and that's true for all genders."
She said the data that's currently available doesn't show that transgender girls have the upper hand when it comes to performing in sports alongside cisgender girls...
Adding that until there's data proving this, transgender girls should be allowed to compete with cisgender girls.
She was then confronted with the fact that generally, male biologies are stronger than those of females which enhances performance...
To which she replied with: "The truth is, we don't know what this performance difference is! It isn't as simple as natural testosterone, which isn't the reason. There are men with natural testosterone below the women's average, and they're competing at no disadvantage to men with 100 times the testosterone levels.
"So, there are certainly some biological reasons for men being bigger, stronger, and faster than women... but we do know that there are also social reasons," she said, before saying that young boys being encouraged into sports and to become "buff" more than girls is definitely a factor.
"Inclusion should be a default and sport is a human right."
You can check out Veronica's full discussion here.
What do you think? Do you agree with Caitlyn? Or do you think Veronica makes a valid point about how testosterone has nothing to do with a person's sporting performance?
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