Interesting feature on Renee Richards - who backs Navratilova (sort of)

[BiologyIsReal]

www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2019/03/26/meet-renee-richards-sports-accidental-transgender-pioneer/

Two page spread in the D Telegraph sports section today on Renee Richards, the transgender former tennis player. Richards underwent full transition and played on the women's circuit when she was a senior and became Martina Navratilova's coach.

Renée comes across very reasonable and the article is very balanced.

This part stood out re the ruling about her being able to compete against women, and initially being told No.

"I don’t like to be told I can’t do something”. [So] She sued the United States Tennis Association, and with affidavits from her surgeon and Billie Jean King confirming that she was psychologically, physically and physiologically a woman, Judge Alfred Ascione ruled in her favour

I enjoyed reading Renee's opinion on this, and I appreciate her speaking up.

I disagree with her though on whether the deciding factor on whether or not a transwoman can compete in the women's category should be either a) surgery and/or b) whether or not they will win. Although I understand why Renee feels that way, it's not a consistent position. A 20-year old male athlete could have GR surgery and still wipe the floor with every female. Renee seems to be suggesting that the rules should allow them to compete, but that the transwoman should (due to morals) not compete until they are older and not as competitive. That is clearly open to abuse. Renee themself did unfairly beat lots of women at age 40+.

To me, this demonstrates how Renee's perspective is influenced by a male-entitlement to women. Women, of all abilities, deserve to compete in women's sports with only female people, because that is what they signed up for (whether that be at their local tennis club match, or at the Olympics). If you have a segregated male/female event, all the people in it have the right to expect that it be actually segregated by male/female.

It reinforces my belief that no male(-born) human, whether man, transexual, transgender, or intersex, should have their opinion on opening up women's sports (to males) taken into account, because they are not considering the best interests of women.

I agree Sonic.

”I would have been mortified if I had won grand slams as a woman, and I would have stopped on the spot,"

Renee seems to think that it’s fine if 40 year olds compete with younger women. The very fact that they can is a perfect demonstration of how unfair it is.

It appears that even when in Renee’s 40s, Renee was higher in women’s tennis than he had ever been in men’s tennis (not misgendering- he because when competing in men’s tennis he was a man - stated in the article).

Frustratingly misogynistic to assume it’s fine.