Don't treat trans athletes as girls

[Winesalot]

Obviously only a statement but still, some sunlight for this athletics case.

—

The U.S. Justice Department is getting involved in a federal civil rights lawsuit that seeks to block transgender athletes in Connecticut from competing as girls in interscholastic sports.

Attorney General William Barr signed what is known as a statement of interest Tuesday, arguing against the policy of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, the board that oversees the state's high school athletic competitions.

The conference allows athletes to compete as the gender with which they identify, arguing it is following a state law that requires high school students be treated according to their gender identity. It also argues the policy is in accordance with Title IX, the federal law that allows girls equal educational opportunities, including in athletics.

The Justice Department, in its filing, disagrees.

“Under CIAC’s interpretation of Title IX, however, schools may not account for the real physiological differences between men and women. Instead, schools must have certain biological males — namely, those who publicly identify as female — compete against biological females,” Barr and the other department officials write. “In so doing, CIAC deprives those women of the single-sex athletic competitions that are one of the marquee accomplishments of Title IX."

The lawsuit was filed in February by runners Selina Soule, a senior at Glastonbury High School; Chelsea Mitchell, a senior at Canton High School; and Alanna Smith, a sophomore at Danbury High School, against the conference and several local boards of education.

They argue they have been deprived of wins, state titles and athletic opportunities by being forced to compete against transgender athletes.

“Males will always have inherent physical advantages over comparably talented and trained girls — that’s the reason we have girls sports in the first place,” their attorney, Christiana Holcomb said Wednesday. “And a male’s belief about his gender doesn’t eliminate those advantages.”

Messages seeking comment were left Wednesday with the attorneys representing the the athletic conference and other defendants.

The American Civil Liberties Union, whose attorneys represent the two transgender athletes who run track in Connecticut, said it was deeply troubled that the U.S. government would weigh in to ”make clear that it does not believe girls who are trans enjoy protections under federal law."

“Our clients are two high school seniors who are just trying to enjoy their final track season of high school and who now have to contend with the federal government arguing against their right to equal educational opportunities,” said Chase Strangio, deputy director for Trans Justice at the ACLU's LGBT & HIV Project. “History will look back on these anti-trans attacks with deep regret and shame. In the meantime we will continue to fight for the rights of all girls to participate in the sports they love.”

The spring track season is on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but conference officials have put off a decision on whether to cancel it.

Holcomb has said because the lawsuit also asks for changes to the state record book, the lawsuit will go forward even if it is not resolved before the seniors graduate.


www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/u-s-justice-department-don-t-treat-trans-athletes-girls-n1168966

[Winesalot]

The usual tweets surround it... how dare the government cause harm to trans athletes. ... how dare they do this during a pandemic ... and these transgirls have female brains and their brains have developed as girls since birth so this is so wrong.

However, lots of support too. Onwards, forwards.

[R0wantrees]

“Our clients are two high school seniors who are just trying to enjoy their final track season of high school and who now have to contend with the federal government arguing against their right to equal educational opportunities,” said Chase Strangio, deputy director for Trans Justice at the ACLU's LGBT & HIV Project. “History will look back on these anti-trans attacks with deep regret and shame. In the meantime we will continue to fight for the rights of all girls to participate in the sports they love.”



recent thread, OP BuzzShitbagBobbly wrote:

"Chase Strangio suggesting private video calls with children
Ages ago, I read something about how it was always "the women" who block predators and risky people from children. In that case, they referred to Jimmy Savile, when it was largely female nurses and HCPs, subtly and without advertising it, preventing him accessing children, when the authorities were rolling out the red carpet and literally handing him keys.

FF to now, and Chase Strangio (born female, now identifies as masculine, works as a lawyer for the ACLU); put out a tweet directly encouraging vulnerable children to privately message and video chat with them. Chase being a very public trans activist with a significantly biased, trans-focused agenda.

Like before, "the women" immediately started trying to block this. Chase eventually got seriously narked off by people pointing out the absolutely disgraceful lack of safeguarding and risks this entailed and deleted that tweet in a strop.

Only to follow it up with more snarky whinging about "anti-trans" replies and how "TERFS" were spoiling Chase's offer as "a mass of unwarranted and relentless harassment"

You know what? I am happy to be called whatever the fuck you want to call me, if all it means is standing in the path of adults deliberately trying to access vulnerable children and influence them and saying "No". I'm no saintly mother figure, but I know shady shit when I see it.

No, Chase. No fucking way.

//thepostmillennial.com/twitter-slams-aclu-lawyer-for-soliciting-dms-from-minors
//twitter.com/chasestrangio/status/1239624134067400705
//twitter.com/chasestrangio/status/1239603981023940608

(PS. yes I know "not all women" and "yes some men", but overwhelmingly this is the case)"

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3851380-Chase-Strangio-suggesting-private-video-calls-with-children

[Winesalot]

The offer of a private chat really turned my stomach. It is horrifying when you consider it in light of the button on mermaids to hide the page. Obviously, they not see the boundaries they are crossing here.

And why would they. Every transitioned child/teen/adult validates the cause.

[AnyOldSpartabix]

“History will look back on these anti-trans attacks with deep regret and shame.”

Nah!

In a few years time, people will look back and wonder how the fuck anyone ever thought it was appropriate to let young men into young women’s sports and history will record it as one of those periods when, for some inexplicable reason, the world went collectively insane.

[Mockerswithnoknockers]

If History teaches us anything, it is that the past's idea of how the future will judge it is often way off the mark.

“Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say: 'This was their finest hour.”

[Clymene]

I'd like to see chase strangulations compete against men in competitive sports. I suspect chase would perform woefully. Also chase is well aware of sex difference - chase's wife gave birth to a baby several years ago.

[MedusasButterDish]

I can't believe this arsery is still going on. Whenever I read phrases like "all women" or "all girls", I brace myself for the dishonest qualifier. It's just such lying bullshit. It's worse, though: it's cognitive behavioural therapy.

[GrinitchSpinach]

It’ll be late at night for UK women (7 pm Eastern; should be midnight Greenwich I think?) but if anxiety is giving anyone insomnia like it does me, maybe you’d like to buy a ticket to WoLF’s virtual event April 2 featuring the three brave CT girls standing up for themselves and all female athletes:

www.eventbrite.com/e/connecticut-athletics-girls-speak-tickets-99974729106

[Dadq]

Mockerswithnoknockers “Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say: 'This was their finest hour.”

That paragraph doesn't seem to have aged badly to me, in terms of modern historical judgements. In what way do you think it has?

[Songsparrow]

The U.S. Justice Department is getting involved in a federal civil rights lawsuit that seeks to block transgender athletes in Connecticut from competing as girls in interscholastic sports

The lack of honesty in the language really bothers me. Nobody is seeking to block transgender athletes from competing. Those who identify as transgender boys can compete with those of their sex, ie. in the girls' races, and those who identify as transgender girls can compete with those of their sex, ie. in the boys' races. It's nothing to do with them being trans.

[R0wantrees]

The U.S. Justice Department is getting involved in a federal civil rights lawsuit that seeks to block transgender athletes in Connecticut from competing as girls in interscholastic sports

Girls (young human females) identified as transgender would not be blocked from competing against other girls.

It is boys (young human males) identified as transgender which the lawsuit seeks to exclude from female sporting competitions.

[Dadq]

Those who identify as transgender boys can compete with those of their sex, ie. in the girls' races

Testosterone treatment is likely to be against the rules. I think this is fine - there are lots of lifestyle decisions which are incompatible with serious sport. But inevitably TRAs will attempt to frame it as discriminatory (with some success so far).

[Ikeasucks]

“Testosterone treatment is likely to be against the rules.”

Not in Mat Beggs case - seems if prescribed as treatment it’s fine

[lionheart]

thevelvetchronicle.com/doj-sides-with-three-connecticut-hs-girls-about-fairness-in-sport/

Statement of interest:

www.adfmedia.org/files/SouleStatementOfInterest.pdf

[MrGHardy]

The American Civil Liberties Union, whose attorneys represent the two transgender athletes who run track in Connecticut, said it was deeply troubled that the U.S. government would weigh in to ”make clear that it does not believe girls who are trans enjoy protections under federal law."

That person deserves a punch right in the face.

The irony of being part of the "civil liberties union" and simultaneously excluding girls from sport.

[LadyQuarantinaPluckington]

I don't disagree on your broader point, but punching people is really not what we're about.

[Goosefoot]

I find it really depressing that the civil liberties people have jumped into the woke camp on this - they are one group you might have thought would support alternate perspectives.

[MrGHardy]

I have actually never been in a fight in my life (other than with my brother). I just imagine actually punching someone who really deserves it would feel so very satisfying.

[NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace]

In a few years time, people will look back and wonder how the fuck anyone ever thought it was appropriate to let young men into young women’s sports and history will record it as one of those periods when, for some inexplicable reason, the world went collectively insane.

I hope so; it can't come quickly enough!