Sport and Transgender discussion on Good Morning Britain

[Sarcelle]

Interesting discussion on GMB this morning about allowing transgender women competing in women's sport events.

Against were Piers Morgan, India Willoughby and Sharron Davies.

For allowing them to compete - Prof Elliott or Ellis (can't remember) Cashman. A bit of a second hand car salesman - is he a rent a quote on the subject?

Piers is a bull in a china shop but he put the point across well about the unfairness as did IW.

Prof Ellis Cashmore. Bloody eejit

Patronising and creepy man.

I missed it but the prof was my lecturer and seminar teacher lol

Not a huge fan but I think sometimes it takes the Piers Morgan approach to seriously discuss this

Wasn't Ellis Cashman on women's hour a few weeks ago saying that sports needed to get with the times and get rid of sex segregated sport?

Yes, Susanna Reid started the discussion by saying she was afraid to talk about it in case she got the terminology wrong. Piers said he wasn't, and that being shouted down for using the wrong terminology was a way of being bullied into silence - to paraphrase. She didn't say anything else. Sticks in my craw that a man can speak up (glad he did) but his female colleague was more worried about being woke than speaking up about the issue.

Is he the one who said to win against men women needed to try harder?

He (Prof) said in the GMB item that there had always been inequalities in sport - he himself could not be a jockey a basketball player. Not sure what that has to do with this particular issue.

Just looked him up, he seems to say all sorts of controversial statements about various issues, probably because he wants a media career.

Susanna Reid reckons she's a feminist. She's just a pouty mute.

He was on the radio with Sharon Davies the week the Martina story broke. Saying binary was so 19C and now gender is fluid sport needs to get with the times and be fluid, binary is passé.
Plus if women just trained like men....

Dread to think what he teaches his poor students.

Iirc someone else pointed out he's got a book to sell.

Public book burning has a bad history but I'm beginning to see a case for it in some instances.

Heyduggees someone did say that on women's hour - but it was a woman. Dr Beth someone, fairly young with a PhD in something social sciences rather than physical sciences. But she doesn't seem to have put her four pen'th in since Martina opened up the discussion.

Sport is about fairness and fair play. Allowing transgender women to compete in women's events is simply not fair. That's the bottom line.

Susanna Reid reckons she's a feminist. She's just a pouty mute

We know what she wants to say, but she is waiting for a man to speak for her.

It is time for her to stick her head above the parapet.

Well done to those who have.

Public book burning has a bad history but I'm beginning to see a case for it in some instances.

Susanna never said anything on the issue. In fact, she never says anything of note.

I don't like Piers but I'm glad he's got the bit between his teeth on the trans issue.

Piers, India, Sharron all superb. Prof talking shit.

Why have Semenya prominently in the background. She is NOT I repeat NOT part of this debate.

Why have Semenya prominently in the background. She is NOT I repeat NOT part of this debate.

Aaaah, almost as good as when Dexys Midnight Runners were on TOTP with Jackie Wilson Said, and they put up a graphic of darts player Jockie Wilson...

(Yes, really)

Milly
Hahaha I remember that.
The BBC got that sooo wrong.

The problem is that Cashmore has written a number of seminal books / chapters on sport and society... I used them myself years ago. He writes very clearly and authoratatively, makes some very interesting points very well. I was REALLY surprised to see him land on that side of the debate. It doesn't seem right!

I can only assume the royalties have dried up and he is in need of cash and a raised profile! Talking of which his Aston Uni picture is NOTHING like I remember him looking, about 30 years ago!

I thought Sharon and Piers were really good. I’m very tired of this sports are unfair jockeys need to be small, rowers need to be tall etc etc so why shouldn’t transwomen compete - it’s a non starter.

I thought the comparison with the Eastern European athletes and gymnasts in 70s etc was a good one - the fact that they flooded their athletes with testosterone and effectively meant that Sharron D could not hope to win against a swimmer from one of those regimes, and this situation is very similar.