To overcome the adversary it is first necessary to understand him. Applying this principle to struggle against gender ideology and the excesses of trans activism, anyone interested in understanding mainstream support for the trans phenomenon and mainstream opposition to the gender critical point of view should read a recent piece by the center-right, Never-Trump pundit Jonathan V. Last. The essay elicited over 1,000 comments. Most of them are also worth reading for the same reasons.
On March 12, Last published "Leave Trans People Alone: A Rant' on his "Triad" Substack account. The lede was "“Trans sports” isn’t an actual problem in the real world. The problem is that life is hard. Don’t make it harder." https://www.thebulwark.com/p/leave-trans-people-alone-a-rant
Since this piece is behind a paywall, it appears here in its entirety. There is insufficient room here for the 1,244 comments the piece had elicited since it appeared. They can be found here:
I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to get pissed about the bullying of trans people.
Would you like to make the case that trans women should be excluded from women’s sports at elite levels under certain circumstances?
Fine. We can talk about this. We can go through it, case-by-case, and make prudential judgments so long as we all understand upfront that every single one of these examples is an edge case.
Is it okay for a 12-year-old cis-girl to play on a Little League baseball team that’s otherwise all boys? Yes. It happens all the time. No one cares.
Is it a good idea for a trans woman to fight in MMA? No. Combat sports have lots of rules in place to prevent them from becoming too dangerous: Weight classes; gloves; no small-digit manipulation or eye gouges. Having trans women compete against cis-women in combat sports crosses the boundary of an acceptable level of danger.1
Literally every other “trans person in sports” question falls somewhere between these two poles. These cases are rare enough that we rarely need bright-line tests and strict rules. In almost every situation we can figure these things out and make reasonable accommodations that keep most of the parties happy enough and preserve everyone’s dignity.
It’s. Just. Sports. This isn’t life-and-death. Sports do not count for anything until you get the the level where money is on the line. Until then, the only thing going on in sports is character development. And the truth is that, in the unlikely event that you find yourself caught up in a situation in which a trans person is trying to be accommodated in your recreational sport, that’s an opportunity for character formation for everyone.
It’s a chance to learn wisdom, courage, compassion, honor, empathy, and charity.
Maybe it won’t always be thus.
Many years ago I wrote a piece about trans women in sports and I worried about what would happen to Title IX if trans women started taking over Division I college scholarships.2 Would such a development hurt the financial and educational prospects of biological women? It probably would. That would be a problem. We should be monitoring that situation.
Well guess what: It hasn’t happened.3 It turned out that the edge cases we saw many years ago are the same edge cases we see today. There has been no trans takeover. So until such time as trans women start taking scholarship slots that would have gone to cis-gendered women at the Division 1 level, or start crowding out roster spots on professional teams, can we stop perseverating about the “trans sports” problem?
Here’s what is happening at scale:
About 15,000 trans people who volunteered to serve their country—and are doing so honorably—are in the process of being kicked out of the military.
Suicide rates and suicidal ideation among both trans children and adults is heart-breakingly high.
And the Trump administration is trying to erase the existence of trans people in ways that are openly demeaning and mean-spirited.
Cases of trans-sports conflicts are so rare that you can probably name all three of them.4
Cases of trans folks—and especially kids—being bullied are so common that they don’t even register.
Finding your place in the world is hard.
Even under the best of circumstances. If you’re a neurotypical kid with both parents at home and enough money to be comfortable, growing up is still hard.
If you’re different in any way—if you’re black, or autistic, or your parents split up; if you’re dyslexic, or you have a sibling with special needs, or you’re just kind of quirky—growing up is even harder.
As Don Draper once said: The universe is indifferent. No one cares about your struggles; everyone has problems of their own.
So why are some people determined to make the lives of trans kids harder?
Do you think these kids are having an easy time of it?5 Do you think they’re comfortable in their own skin? Do you think their parents are making them this way because of some ideological crusade?
To be a parent is to have your life hostage to the fate of your least-happy child.
Anyone who has ever had a kid who struggled, in any way, understands that feeling of desperation and dread. You want them to be okay. You’ll do anything to help. And you know your kid better than anyone else does. Better than their teachers. Better than their doctors, even.
And certainly better than some busybody across the country who is hot and bothered because of something he saw on Fox.
So before you say anything about trans kids, imagine a specific trans kid in a specific family and ask yourself two questions:
(1) Do you think that kid’s parents want to hurt him or her?
(2) Do you know that kid better than his or her parents do?
Then instead of trying to tell these families what they should or shouldn’t do, say a prayer for them. They don’t need lectures. They need to be loved.
Because again—and I cannot emphasize this enough—life is hard enough. Stop making it harder. That’s what bullies do.
If you saw someone in a wheelchair getting picked on, you wouldn’t applaud it. You’d stop it.
If you saw someone on the street who was confused and vulnerable getting hassled, you’d stand up for them.
You wouldn’t heckle someone with autism spectrum disorder, or someone who didn’t have a lot of money, or someone who—through no fault of her own—was getting picked on by a mob.
Yet that’s what’s happening in America, right now, to trans people.
We’ve had a lot of discourse about whether Democrats should abandon trans issues.
Let me say this very clearly: Trans people playing sports isn’t an “issue.” It’s a small universe of edge cases that can mostly be sorted out by the direct stakeholders.6
The “issue” that’s broad, and systemic, and happening right in front of us is that we have a society that’s decided it wants to bully a class of vulnerable people who are already having a hard enough time. We have an unhealthy percentage of citizens cheering “LFG!” as the current administration revels in the freedom to target anyone on the margins.
The trans “issue” is, at root, simple. Be a good person. Try to help others make their way in the world. Don’t be a bully.
2. Character
As I said up top, until money is on the line, the only thing that matters in youth sports is character development.
I don’t care how elite a young athlete is: None of the outcomes in their sport matter.
You win some. You lose some. But on the question of whether or not you advance to the next level? The sport makes those decisions for you, irrespective of the outcomes of any particular game.
When college coaches recruit a basketball player they look at the body, speed, vertical leap, shooting percentage. They can see everything they need in an hour-long scrimmage. Whether or not the recruit’s team wins or loses a game? Absolutely immaterial.7
In swimming, or track, an athlete is judged by his or her personal record. The result at any given meet—even a championship meet—is immaterial. If a kid can run a 4:15 mile, then he can run at the next level. It doesn’t matter what time the kid next to him runs.
Sport is a microcosm of the human condition: joy, pain, anxiety, determination, camaraderie, grace, courage. That’s why participating in sports is good for kids. It takes the biggest aspects of life and compresses them into a manageable size.8 So that you can learn from them.
The trans-athlete controversy of the moment is a kid in California, AB Hernandez, who won the girls’ triple jump at the Ontario Relays by 8 feet. This kid gave a quote to some reporter that’s gotten plastered all over Murdoch media: “I just keep telling myself you are No.1—it’s yours to lose.”
That’s not great. I don’t know this kid’s circumstances, but she could be a little more gracious. She’s asking to be treated with respect and dignity and in return she should probably understand that she’s an edge case, the running community is accommodating her, and that if you’re one of the other girls getting outjumped by 8 feet, this incredibly unusual circumstance might not feel fair.9
But Hernandez is a high school junior. The whole idea is that her experience in sports will help her grow into the kind of person who understands nuance and extends grace to others. Hopefully, the other kids at the Ontario Relays will come to understand that the girl who won the triple jump has probably had a hard road, and that her result doesn’t diminish their own efforts or achievements.
And what all of them will learn, I hope, is that a week from now no one will care, or even remember, who won what at that track meet.
What people will remember is how they made each other feel.10
This is Chat GPT's analysis and critique of Last's essay:
Summary and Critique of the Essay from a Gender-Critical Perspective
Summary
The essay argues that the controversy around trans women in sports is largely overblown, portraying it as a small-scale issue of rare "edge cases" rather than a systemic problem. The author acknowledges that in some cases—such as combat sports—excluding trans women may be necessary for safety reasons. However, they claim that in most sports, accommodations can be made without significant consequences.
The author dismisses concerns about fairness, asserting that trans women have not "taken over" women’s sports or college scholarships. They suggest that youth sports primarily serve character development rather than competition, implying that objections to trans participation stem from a misplaced emphasis on winning rather than inclusivity. The essay also frames opposition to trans inclusion as a form of bullying, lumping it together with broader societal discrimination against trans people.
Additionally, the piece downplays high-profile cases of trans women outperforming female athletes, arguing that these cases are exceedingly rare. It advocates for handling disputes at the local level rather than implementing broad restrictions. The overarching message is that opposition to trans participation in women's sports is rooted in bigotry rather than legitimate concerns about fairness or women’s rights.
Critique from a Gender-Critical Perspective
While the essay presents itself as a measured and compassionate argument for inclusion, it largely dismisses or minimizes key concerns raised by advocates for female athletes. A gender-critical analysis would challenge the essay’s main premises on several grounds:
1. Downplaying the Importance of Fairness in Women’s Sports
The essay suggests that youth and amateur sports are primarily about character development rather than competition. However, this dismisses the reality that many female athletes train for years to earn scholarships and advance their careers. If fairness did not matter, we would not have separate men’s and women’s categories in the first place.
Trans women, who have undergone male puberty, retain physiological advantages—including increased muscle mass, lung capacity, and bone density—even after transitioning. These advantages do not disappear with hormone therapy, as shown by research on trans athletes. Ignoring this reality dismisses the very reason sex-based categories exist in sports.
2. The “No Takeover” Argument Ignores Individual Injustices
The author argues that since trans women have not dominated women’s sports at scale, the issue is exaggerated. However, gender-critical feminists argue that fairness is not contingent on numerical dominance. Even a few cases of unfair competition—such as Lia Thomas in swimming or CeCe Telfer in track—can displace female athletes who have trained for years. In elite sports, small advantages make significant differences.
Moreover, the essay's logic could be applied to justify any unfairness as long as it is not widespread. Would we tolerate a single case of doping if it didn’t “take over” a sport? No—because fairness matters in every instance.
3. False Equivalence Between Inclusion and Bullying
The essay equates concerns about fairness in sports with bullying and discrimination against trans people. This is a rhetorical tactic that sidesteps the issue. Advocating for female athletes' rights does not equate to denying trans people's humanity. Just as women’s sports exist to ensure fair competition for female athletes, policies regulating eligibility protect the integrity of the category.
Moreover, the essay ignores that trans inclusion often results in female athletes feeling excluded and demoralized. Women who voice concerns—such as Riley Gaines or Martina Navratilova—are often vilified. If fairness and dignity are the goals, the voices of female athletes should also be respected.
The essay suggests that sports governing bodies should handle trans inclusion on a case-by-case basis rather than implementing clear policies. However, this approach ignores the fact that governing bodies often fail to protect female athletes due to political pressure. When individual teams or organizations allow trans women to compete, female athletes often have no recourse—leading to unfair outcomes and controversy.
Clear regulations, such as those set by World Athletics and FINA (which restrict trans women from competing in elite female categories), are necessary precisely because allowing trans women in women’s sports creates ongoing disputes.
Conclusion
The essay presents itself as a call for inclusivity and compassion but ultimately dismisses the legitimate concerns of female athletes. By framing the issue as a minor "edge case" rather than a matter of fairness and competitive integrity, it downplays the biological realities that justify sex-segregated sports. A gender-critical perspective would argue that while trans women deserve respect and inclusion in society, this should not come at the expense of fairness in women’s sports.
Second, John V. Last doesn’t realize what is the actual human rights issue when it comes to children, adolescents and vulnerable young adults and parents. He makes the mistake of assuming the “born in the wrong body” BELIEF is actual FACT.
He says:
“So why are some people determined to make the lives of trans kids harder?
Do you think these kids are having an easy time of it?5 Do you think they’re comfortable in their own skin? Do you think their parents are making them this way because of some ideological crusade?
To be a parent is to have your life hostage to the fate of your least-happy child.
Anyone who has ever had a kid who struggled, in any way, understands that feeling of desperation and dread. You want them to be okay. You’ll do anything to help. And you know your kid better than anyone else does. Better than their teachers. Better than their doctors, even.”
The human rights problem is that kids the adults are being deceived by a belief system that is not based in reality: no one is born in the wrong body. Everyone’s body is a given; biology is immutable. Only behavior is mutable. We can surgically and chemically mess with the body which facilitates a social transition – a behavior – but this does not alter the fundamental biology. “Doctors” should know this and assure parents that there is no such thing as a trans child; that people make decisions about altering the body and "transitioning" the way they live but the basic biological facts do not change. Unfortunately, currently, the dominant Western cultural belief system is that people (and children) have a gendered “soul” that necessitates medical intervention. And people are being harmed by these beliefs.
People get bullied because of beliefs; not because they are born in the wrong body and struggle mightily with a culture that doesn’t “see” them.
Finally, about this Inspecting Gender article: Thanks to DOGE? Really? And this U.S. administration? Really? I think we are in more trouble now than we were before. And celebrating the behavior of these thugs is troubling to me.
What did DOGE uncover about government spending on Trans issues? The study on rats? Why wouldn't we want to know about the possible harmful effects of wrong sex hormones on rats? Is it better to not investigate this? DOGE is a scam. Full of fake news.
To overcome the adversary it is first necessary to understand him. Applying this principle to struggle against gender ideology and the excesses of trans activism, anyone interested in understanding mainstream support for the trans phenomenon and mainstream opposition to the gender critical point of view should read a recent piece by the center-right, Never-Trump pundit Jonathan V. Last. The essay elicited over 1,000 comments. Most of them are also worth reading for the same reasons.
On March 12, Last published "Leave Trans People Alone: A Rant' on his "Triad" Substack account. The lede was "“Trans sports” isn’t an actual problem in the real world. The problem is that life is hard. Don’t make it harder." https://www.thebulwark.com/p/leave-trans-people-alone-a-rant
Since this piece is behind a paywall, it appears here in its entirety. There is insufficient room here for the 1,244 comments the piece had elicited since it appeared. They can be found here:
https://www.thebulwark.com/p/leave-trans-people-alone-a-rant/comments
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Begin Rant
I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to get pissed about the bullying of trans people.
Would you like to make the case that trans women should be excluded from women’s sports at elite levels under certain circumstances?
Fine. We can talk about this. We can go through it, case-by-case, and make prudential judgments so long as we all understand upfront that every single one of these examples is an edge case.
Is it okay for a 12-year-old cis-girl to play on a Little League baseball team that’s otherwise all boys? Yes. It happens all the time. No one cares.
Is it a good idea for a trans woman to fight in MMA? No. Combat sports have lots of rules in place to prevent them from becoming too dangerous: Weight classes; gloves; no small-digit manipulation or eye gouges. Having trans women compete against cis-women in combat sports crosses the boundary of an acceptable level of danger.1
Literally every other “trans person in sports” question falls somewhere between these two poles. These cases are rare enough that we rarely need bright-line tests and strict rules. In almost every situation we can figure these things out and make reasonable accommodations that keep most of the parties happy enough and preserve everyone’s dignity.
It’s. Just. Sports. This isn’t life-and-death. Sports do not count for anything until you get the the level where money is on the line. Until then, the only thing going on in sports is character development. And the truth is that, in the unlikely event that you find yourself caught up in a situation in which a trans person is trying to be accommodated in your recreational sport, that’s an opportunity for character formation for everyone.
It’s a chance to learn wisdom, courage, compassion, honor, empathy, and charity.
Maybe it won’t always be thus.
Many years ago I wrote a piece about trans women in sports and I worried about what would happen to Title IX if trans women started taking over Division I college scholarships.2 Would such a development hurt the financial and educational prospects of biological women? It probably would. That would be a problem. We should be monitoring that situation.
Well guess what: It hasn’t happened.3 It turned out that the edge cases we saw many years ago are the same edge cases we see today. There has been no trans takeover. So until such time as trans women start taking scholarship slots that would have gone to cis-gendered women at the Division 1 level, or start crowding out roster spots on professional teams, can we stop perseverating about the “trans sports” problem?
Here’s what is happening at scale:
About 15,000 trans people who volunteered to serve their country—and are doing so honorably—are in the process of being kicked out of the military.
Suicide rates and suicidal ideation among both trans children and adults is heart-breakingly high.
And the Trump administration is trying to erase the existence of trans people in ways that are openly demeaning and mean-spirited.
Cases of trans-sports conflicts are so rare that you can probably name all three of them.4
Cases of trans folks—and especially kids—being bullied are so common that they don’t even register.
Finding your place in the world is hard.
Even under the best of circumstances. If you’re a neurotypical kid with both parents at home and enough money to be comfortable, growing up is still hard.
If you’re different in any way—if you’re black, or autistic, or your parents split up; if you’re dyslexic, or you have a sibling with special needs, or you’re just kind of quirky—growing up is even harder.
As Don Draper once said: The universe is indifferent. No one cares about your struggles; everyone has problems of their own.
So why are some people determined to make the lives of trans kids harder?
Do you think these kids are having an easy time of it?5 Do you think they’re comfortable in their own skin? Do you think their parents are making them this way because of some ideological crusade?
To be a parent is to have your life hostage to the fate of your least-happy child.
Anyone who has ever had a kid who struggled, in any way, understands that feeling of desperation and dread. You want them to be okay. You’ll do anything to help. And you know your kid better than anyone else does. Better than their teachers. Better than their doctors, even.
And certainly better than some busybody across the country who is hot and bothered because of something he saw on Fox.
So before you say anything about trans kids, imagine a specific trans kid in a specific family and ask yourself two questions:
(1) Do you think that kid’s parents want to hurt him or her?
(2) Do you know that kid better than his or her parents do?
Then instead of trying to tell these families what they should or shouldn’t do, say a prayer for them. They don’t need lectures. They need to be loved.
Because again—and I cannot emphasize this enough—life is hard enough. Stop making it harder. That’s what bullies do.
If you saw someone in a wheelchair getting picked on, you wouldn’t applaud it. You’d stop it.
If you saw someone on the street who was confused and vulnerable getting hassled, you’d stand up for them.
You wouldn’t heckle someone with autism spectrum disorder, or someone who didn’t have a lot of money, or someone who—through no fault of her own—was getting picked on by a mob.
Yet that’s what’s happening in America, right now, to trans people.
We’ve had a lot of discourse about whether Democrats should abandon trans issues.
Let me say this very clearly: Trans people playing sports isn’t an “issue.” It’s a small universe of edge cases that can mostly be sorted out by the direct stakeholders.6
The “issue” that’s broad, and systemic, and happening right in front of us is that we have a society that’s decided it wants to bully a class of vulnerable people who are already having a hard enough time. We have an unhealthy percentage of citizens cheering “LFG!” as the current administration revels in the freedom to target anyone on the margins.
The trans “issue” is, at root, simple. Be a good person. Try to help others make their way in the world. Don’t be a bully.
2. Character
As I said up top, until money is on the line, the only thing that matters in youth sports is character development.
I don’t care how elite a young athlete is: None of the outcomes in their sport matter.
You win some. You lose some. But on the question of whether or not you advance to the next level? The sport makes those decisions for you, irrespective of the outcomes of any particular game.
When college coaches recruit a basketball player they look at the body, speed, vertical leap, shooting percentage. They can see everything they need in an hour-long scrimmage. Whether or not the recruit’s team wins or loses a game? Absolutely immaterial.7
In swimming, or track, an athlete is judged by his or her personal record. The result at any given meet—even a championship meet—is immaterial. If a kid can run a 4:15 mile, then he can run at the next level. It doesn’t matter what time the kid next to him runs.
Sport is a microcosm of the human condition: joy, pain, anxiety, determination, camaraderie, grace, courage. That’s why participating in sports is good for kids. It takes the biggest aspects of life and compresses them into a manageable size.8 So that you can learn from them.
The trans-athlete controversy of the moment is a kid in California, AB Hernandez, who won the girls’ triple jump at the Ontario Relays by 8 feet. This kid gave a quote to some reporter that’s gotten plastered all over Murdoch media: “I just keep telling myself you are No.1—it’s yours to lose.”
That’s not great. I don’t know this kid’s circumstances, but she could be a little more gracious. She’s asking to be treated with respect and dignity and in return she should probably understand that she’s an edge case, the running community is accommodating her, and that if you’re one of the other girls getting outjumped by 8 feet, this incredibly unusual circumstance might not feel fair.9
But Hernandez is a high school junior. The whole idea is that her experience in sports will help her grow into the kind of person who understands nuance and extends grace to others. Hopefully, the other kids at the Ontario Relays will come to understand that the girl who won the triple jump has probably had a hard road, and that her result doesn’t diminish their own efforts or achievements.
And what all of them will learn, I hope, is that a week from now no one will care, or even remember, who won what at that track meet.
What people will remember is how they made each other feel.10
This is Chat GPT's analysis and critique of Last's essay:
Summary and Critique of the Essay from a Gender-Critical Perspective
Summary
The essay argues that the controversy around trans women in sports is largely overblown, portraying it as a small-scale issue of rare "edge cases" rather than a systemic problem. The author acknowledges that in some cases—such as combat sports—excluding trans women may be necessary for safety reasons. However, they claim that in most sports, accommodations can be made without significant consequences.
The author dismisses concerns about fairness, asserting that trans women have not "taken over" women’s sports or college scholarships. They suggest that youth sports primarily serve character development rather than competition, implying that objections to trans participation stem from a misplaced emphasis on winning rather than inclusivity. The essay also frames opposition to trans inclusion as a form of bullying, lumping it together with broader societal discrimination against trans people.
Additionally, the piece downplays high-profile cases of trans women outperforming female athletes, arguing that these cases are exceedingly rare. It advocates for handling disputes at the local level rather than implementing broad restrictions. The overarching message is that opposition to trans participation in women's sports is rooted in bigotry rather than legitimate concerns about fairness or women’s rights.
Critique from a Gender-Critical Perspective
While the essay presents itself as a measured and compassionate argument for inclusion, it largely dismisses or minimizes key concerns raised by advocates for female athletes. A gender-critical analysis would challenge the essay’s main premises on several grounds:
1. Downplaying the Importance of Fairness in Women’s Sports
The essay suggests that youth and amateur sports are primarily about character development rather than competition. However, this dismisses the reality that many female athletes train for years to earn scholarships and advance their careers. If fairness did not matter, we would not have separate men’s and women’s categories in the first place.
Trans women, who have undergone male puberty, retain physiological advantages—including increased muscle mass, lung capacity, and bone density—even after transitioning. These advantages do not disappear with hormone therapy, as shown by research on trans athletes. Ignoring this reality dismisses the very reason sex-based categories exist in sports.
2. The “No Takeover” Argument Ignores Individual Injustices
The author argues that since trans women have not dominated women’s sports at scale, the issue is exaggerated. However, gender-critical feminists argue that fairness is not contingent on numerical dominance. Even a few cases of unfair competition—such as Lia Thomas in swimming or CeCe Telfer in track—can displace female athletes who have trained for years. In elite sports, small advantages make significant differences.
Moreover, the essay's logic could be applied to justify any unfairness as long as it is not widespread. Would we tolerate a single case of doping if it didn’t “take over” a sport? No—because fairness matters in every instance.
3. False Equivalence Between Inclusion and Bullying
The essay equates concerns about fairness in sports with bullying and discrimination against trans people. This is a rhetorical tactic that sidesteps the issue. Advocating for female athletes' rights does not equate to denying trans people's humanity. Just as women’s sports exist to ensure fair competition for female athletes, policies regulating eligibility protect the integrity of the category.
Moreover, the essay ignores that trans inclusion often results in female athletes feeling excluded and demoralized. Women who voice concerns—such as Riley Gaines or Martina Navratilova—are often vilified. If fairness and dignity are the goals, the voices of female athletes should also be respected.
4. Localized Decision-Making Ignores Broader Policy Implications
The essay suggests that sports governing bodies should handle trans inclusion on a case-by-case basis rather than implementing clear policies. However, this approach ignores the fact that governing bodies often fail to protect female athletes due to political pressure. When individual teams or organizations allow trans women to compete, female athletes often have no recourse—leading to unfair outcomes and controversy.
Clear regulations, such as those set by World Athletics and FINA (which restrict trans women from competing in elite female categories), are necessary precisely because allowing trans women in women’s sports creates ongoing disputes.
Conclusion
The essay presents itself as a call for inclusivity and compassion but ultimately dismisses the legitimate concerns of female athletes. By framing the issue as a minor "edge case" rather than a matter of fairness and competitive integrity, it downplays the biological realities that justify sex-segregated sports. A gender-critical perspective would argue that while trans women deserve respect and inclusion in society, this should not come at the expense of fairness in women’s sports.
Thanks for sharing this piece and the AI summary/critique. Helpful. Human rights IS a thing.
First, I agree there needs to be a better way to deal with the sports problem for people who choose to medicalize and/or otherwise live as the sex they choose. The best analysis and suggestions I've seen regarding this difficult topic come from Alice Dreger: https://web.archive.org/web/20240503120409/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/05/03/opinion/hormonal-classes-sports/
Second, John V. Last doesn’t realize what is the actual human rights issue when it comes to children, adolescents and vulnerable young adults and parents. He makes the mistake of assuming the “born in the wrong body” BELIEF is actual FACT.
He says:
“So why are some people determined to make the lives of trans kids harder?
Do you think these kids are having an easy time of it?5 Do you think they’re comfortable in their own skin? Do you think their parents are making them this way because of some ideological crusade?
To be a parent is to have your life hostage to the fate of your least-happy child.
Anyone who has ever had a kid who struggled, in any way, understands that feeling of desperation and dread. You want them to be okay. You’ll do anything to help. And you know your kid better than anyone else does. Better than their teachers. Better than their doctors, even.”
The human rights problem is that kids the adults are being deceived by a belief system that is not based in reality: no one is born in the wrong body. Everyone’s body is a given; biology is immutable. Only behavior is mutable. We can surgically and chemically mess with the body which facilitates a social transition – a behavior – but this does not alter the fundamental biology. “Doctors” should know this and assure parents that there is no such thing as a trans child; that people make decisions about altering the body and "transitioning" the way they live but the basic biological facts do not change. Unfortunately, currently, the dominant Western cultural belief system is that people (and children) have a gendered “soul” that necessitates medical intervention. And people are being harmed by these beliefs.
People get bullied because of beliefs; not because they are born in the wrong body and struggle mightily with a culture that doesn’t “see” them.
Finally, about this Inspecting Gender article: Thanks to DOGE? Really? And this U.S. administration? Really? I think we are in more trouble now than we were before. And celebrating the behavior of these thugs is troubling to me.
What did DOGE uncover about government spending on Trans issues? The study on rats? Why wouldn't we want to know about the possible harmful effects of wrong sex hormones on rats? Is it better to not investigate this? DOGE is a scam. Full of fake news.