Transgender Women In Rugby Union

[New Judge]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54491179

Correct decision?

[New Judge]

//All I know is that it's a game for men with odd shaped balls.//

Just the one, I think, duggie.

DD has hit the nail squarely on the head. It's about time this utter, utter nonsense was firmly kicked into touch. Men cannot compete in women's sports. Whether "Stonewall" like it or not men and women are physiologically different. Men participating in a game like Rugby Union would be a farce and anybody suggesting it should be permitted need to contact their GP (if they can) with a view to getting some psychiatric treatment.

Thanks for the contributions.

[Jackdaw33]

What I don't understand is this:
Is a transgender woman a man who decides he's a woman , or a woman who decides he's a man?

[jim360]

The first one, JD, although I'm not sure that many transpeople would agree that "decides" quite captures it. Maybe "realises"?

[naomi24]

//I'm not sure that many transpeople would agree that "decides" quite captures it. Maybe "realises"? //

'Imagines' fits the bill.

[jim360]

Sure, if you want to entirely fail to understand.

[naomi24]

Why don't you answer the question, Jim?

[ToraToraTora]

JD a TG "woman" is a bloke.

[Deskdiary]

Sharon Davies summed it up perfectly “...sport must be based on biological sex”.

I have no issue where speed and strength isn’t an issue (snooker springs to mind - although I question whether that is actually a sport), but for a game like rugby, where speed and strength are vital, it is a nonsense to allow men to compete against women.

[Sqad]

Sharon Davies is correct.
If your sex chromosomes are XX,then you are female and if they are XY then you are male and sport should categorise you appropriately.
Yes, there are abnormalities of the sex chromosomes which lead to medical conditions which could cloud the issue but these are unusual and should be ignored in the context of sport.

[ChillDoubt]

Think I’ll resurrect my golf game, identify as a female and play off the ladies tees.....good chance I’ll be the Club Champ next year!

[Canary42]

Yes.

[jim360]

I wasn't sure how to answer the question, which is why I haven't yet. I can certainly accept the idea that physical sports ought to be tied to biological sex, and that safety is paramount, so if there's a demonstrable risk then I wouldn't argue against the decision.

The parts I mainly take issue with are some of the attitudes surrounding it. Tying sport to biological sex is fine; denying the gender identity is not.

[Deskdiary]

For me it’s safety first and fairness second.

Allowing a man to play in a women’s game of rugby is unsafe, for the women, and the women will not realistically be able to compete, and therefore it’s unfair - I’d even say it’s cheating.

I’m exaggerating to make a point, but can you imagine Mako Vunipola deciding he’s now identifying as a woman and competing against women? It’s so laughable that I’m surprised it’s even worthy of debate.

[Deskdiary]

Has your second paragraph even been raised Jim?

[tomus42]

It's the correct decision. Women should be able to compete in women's sports without them being invaded by men that weren't good enough to get into the men's team.