Let's add one more datapoint. In the news when Lia Thomas was competing in women's sports, sometimes it was also mentioned that trans man Iszac Henig was at the same swim meet - also competing in the women's division. (There was some note about the two sharing a hug in the pool).
Let's add one more datapoint. In the news when Lia Thomas was competing in women's sports, sometimes it was also mentioned that trans man Iszac Henig was at the same swim meet - also competing in the women's division. (There was some note about the two sharing a hug in the pool).
Henig could have competed in the men's league, but chose to compete in the women's league, wearing a women's bathing suit (which would have been very difficult for some with acute gender dysphoria).
Why? I never heard about any trans activists pushing to use gender identity to make Henig compete with the men.
At that time, Henig had socially transitioned, and had had a double mastectomy, but had delayed testosterone treatment until after the championships so as to abide by the doping rules for women.
"which would have been very difficult for some with acute gender dysphoria."
Yep, this story very effectively puts the lie to the idea that trans people simply can't compete with athletes of the same sex or their dysphoria will overwhelm them. It's a ridiculous notion to begin with. Trans activists' insistence on prioritising gender identity over sex disappears almost entirely when trans men are involved. I wonder why that could be...
Another clarifying article, Steve, thanks.
Let's add one more datapoint. In the news when Lia Thomas was competing in women's sports, sometimes it was also mentioned that trans man Iszac Henig was at the same swim meet - also competing in the women's division. (There was some note about the two sharing a hug in the pool).
Henig could have competed in the men's league, but chose to compete in the women's league, wearing a women's bathing suit (which would have been very difficult for some with acute gender dysphoria).
Why? I never heard about any trans activists pushing to use gender identity to make Henig compete with the men.
At that time, Henig had socially transitioned, and had had a double mastectomy, but had delayed testosterone treatment until after the championships so as to abide by the doping rules for women.
"which would have been very difficult for some with acute gender dysphoria."
Yep, this story very effectively puts the lie to the idea that trans people simply can't compete with athletes of the same sex or their dysphoria will overwhelm them. It's a ridiculous notion to begin with. Trans activists' insistence on prioritising gender identity over sex disappears almost entirely when trans men are involved. I wonder why that could be...