Let’s talk about it


"I will stand with you only if you respect me as I sit when I disagree with your unjust cause." Dr. BLR


As we prepare for the start of the MLB season and the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament, the world’s attention will also be on the FIFA World Cup, which begins in June. While sports will be in the spotlight over the next few months, you might find it surprising that, despite this being great for everyone, a more controversial sports issue involves transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.  

Historically, the first transgender man competed in women’s college basketball in 2010, when the NCAA had no policy governing the practice. I don’t want to seem insensitive, but why would a biological man feel the need to compete against a woman, especially if they have an inherent advantage? Sports are meant to be competitive and fun. I cannot imagine how a woman would feel knowing that, in order to win a medal, she would have to beat a biological male.  

There is no secret that society has become more inclusive, to some extent. Before the current Trump administration, life had improved for the LGBTQIA community. Many members saw progress in local, state, and federal employment. Life couldn’t have been better, even though they were aware of the underlying whispers. Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce Jenner, was named Glamour magazine’s 2015 “Woman of the Year,” recognizing her as a “transcending champion.” While I didn’t pay attention to the hoopla surrounding the award, I will, for the purposes of this essay, share my initial thoughts. To say the least, I was disappointed. Many biological women could have been chosen, but were passed over so the magazine could support their acceptance of the transgender community. I would’ve liked to see a biological woman win the award because she has done so much to overcome the discrimination fostered upon her by powerful white men, only to be disrespected by a biological white man. How ironic, don’t you think? As a part of the backlash, a former winner’s husband returned his late wife's 2001 award in protest. 

Since President Trump’s re-election, this issue has gained increased attention. In February 2025, he signed an Executive Order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” which aimed to ban transgender women from competing in female sports and from using women’s restroom facilities in educational institutions. Additionally, he instructed the Department of Education and the Department of Justice to enforce the “sex” at birth interpretation as defined under Title IX, a 1972 federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination. Adding insult, he withheld $175 million from the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) for allowing a transgender person, Lia Thomas, who transitioned to a woman using hormone replacement, to swim as a woman, thus limiting biological women’s opportunity to compete against other biological women. Ultimately, UPenn acquiesced and revised its policy in accordance with President Trump’s interpretation of Title IX and the resulting Executive Orders 14168 and 1420, which released the $175 million that had been withheld.

I'm not very knowledgeable about this topic, but I am the father of a biological daughter for whom I want nothing but the best. I think about how I would feel if she had to compete in any sport against someone who was born a biological man. I don’t believe I would like it, but I would leave it to my daughter to voice her opinion on this matter if she faced a transgender person in a sports event. Over the years, I've learned that I shouldn’t let my personal views influence how I see others. I can only share my opinion. I am happy to know that some female athletes in different sports have voiced their concerns.

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