To think that Martina Navratilova should NOT lose her job at the BBC and that the BBC is biased?

[TeamNavratilova]

On Sunday, Martina Navratilova had an article published in the Sunday Times, giving her views on the inclusion of transwomen (biological males who identify as being women) in women’s sport:

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-rules-on-trans-athletes-reward-cheats-and-punish-the-innocent-klsrq6h3x?shareToken=45bc9997e063aaf79646a7f12a7363a6

The BBC subsequently decided to have a discussion item on this on 5 Live and invited Dr Nicola Williams from Fair Play for Women - fairplayforwomen.com - to speak on Martina’s side of the argument along with Rachel McKinnon (a male-bodied cyclist who identifies as a woman and now holds a cycling world title in women’s cycling).

Rachel McKinnon refused to appear on the show if Dr Williams was on so the BBC’s response was to uninvite Dr Williams and instead interview Rachel McKinnon along with another trans sportsperson who agreed with Rachel. The other side of the argument (along with all facts about the physical differences between male and female bodies which Dr Williams could have provided) was not covered and both interviewees were asked (on the BBC, by a BBC presenter) whether the BBC should fire Martina to which they both replied yes: twitter.com/fairplaywomen/status/1097417280084951040 McKinnon has continued to argue for this online.

AIBU to think that Martina should not lose her commentating job at the BBC for expressing her (considered, researched) views and that the BBC has behaved in a biased and unethical way, firstly, by only presenting one side of an argument on a discussion show and, secondly, by using the opportunity to put forward the idea that Martina should be sacked?

[Traveler001]

Yanbu at all.

[mooncuplanding]

If they fire her they will peak trans the whole country

[Stressedout10]

Yanbu this sort of biased reporting is on the up and is very scary

[sackrifice]

The Streisand effect in full motion.

[AnyFucker]

I don't think the bbc would survive sacking Martina

It is on it's knees already

[BaruFisher]

YANBU.

Even if Fair Play for Women had been allowed on Stephen Nolan is a terribly one sided presenter who seeks conflict and makes situations worse- he is infamous for it in Northern Ireland. The BBC is supposed to be balanced. No sign of it in here.

[blackteasplease]

Absolutely she should not lose her job! Appalling idea.

[EnthusiasmIsDisturbed]

Male voice is more important than a females

Same old same old

Ffs just as we think we are moving forward we are slapped back down again

[RomanticFatigue]

I hope this will bring this into the open arena. Martina is a very well respected athlete and if she does get sacked there are going to be a lot of people who had no idea about this waking up.

[megletthesecond]

Yanbu.

[TanteRose]

YANBU that's appalling

Team Martina

[Redshoeblueshoe]

The BBC are a bloody joke.
YANBU

[Galvantula]

Yanbu at all, it's bloody ridiculous but not surprising. :(

[Lizzie48]

I agree, @AnyFucker the BBC wouldn't survive if they sacked her, she's such an icon. But that doesn't mean they won't do it.

[blackteasplease]

Let's hope she has the support of gay rights groups. Being, you know, gay.

[AornisHades]

YANBU.

[Coyoacan]

It's blatantly obvious that male bodies have a big advantage over female bodies in so many sports, of course Rachel McKinnon couldn't have dealt with a proper scientific argument.

[TaimaandRanyasBestFriend]

I am so glad I no longer hand over money to that biased greedy dinosaur of a cesspit of nepotism and institutional sexism racism and abuse that is the BBC. I hope it goes under soon and every single one of those jumped up poncey cunts loses their jobs.

[Lizzie48]

You're right, @blackteasplease she came out very early on, too. I remember that her sexuality was already common knowledge when I was growing up. She's always been fearless about telling the truth as she sees it.

[Tillygetsit]

Taima I have worked for the BBC and your analysis is spot on.

[Doubletrouble99]

That's dreadful, you go Martina, I completely agree with you.

[BigChocFrenzy]

The BBC would be batshit if they sack Martina for stating biological facts,
using her experience as a tennis No 1, to say why transwomen cannot compete fairly against women.

Mediocre men are taking prizes from the top women
while women are being censored and punished for speaking out about this.

I watched Martina in the 1980s
She was a tennis player of stunning talent, staying World No 1 for years.

I also remember the 1973 tennis match in which a 55-year old male former tennis star Bobbie Riggs easily beat the then number 1 woman player Margaret Court, aged 29, by 6-2, 6-1
Because ... male body

The BBC were totally wrong to censor Martina
and she was absolutely right to write what she did:

"Simply reducing hormone levels - the prescription most sports have adopted - does not solve the problem.

A man builds up muscle and bone density, as well as a greater number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells, from childhood.
Training increases the discrepancy.

Indeed, if a male were to change gender in such a way as to eliminate any accumulated advantage, he would have to begin hormone treatment before puberty.
For me, that is unthinkable.

Hundreds of athletes who have changed gender by declaration and limited hormone treatment have already achieved honours as women that were beyond their capabilities as men,
especially in sports in which power rather than skill is paramount"

[Cheby]

YANBU. The fact that trans women have an unfair advantage in female sport is obvious to anyone with the ability to use their eyes.

McKinnon is a cheating scumbag.

[nancy75]

As long as the men get their own way nothing else matters. Not good enough to be a champion Male sports person? Never mind pretend you’re a woman & take that title, the little women will know their place & accept it. It’s bloody disgusting

[IHeartKingThistle]

I still can't quite believe this happened today.