Credit: Getty Images
Texas is the most recent state that has prohibited transgender youth from playing on sports teams that are in accordance with their gender identity. On Monday, October 25, Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill into law, which mandates that public school students have to compete in school athletic competitions based solely on their assigned sex at birth as opposed to their preferred gender identity. The law takes effect on January 18.
The law has sparked controversy and debate since its signing. Backers of the bill say they think it will prevent transgender athletes from having an unfair advantage when they compete against cisgender students. However, many scientists argue that this belief is not based on science.
Geneticist and pediatricain Eric Vilain says, "We know that men have, on average, an advantage in performance in athletics of about 10% to 12% over women, which the sports authorities have attributed to differences in levels of a male hormone called testosterone, but the question is whether there is, in real life, during actual competitions, an advantage of performance linked to this male hormone and whether transgender athletes are systematically winning all competitions. The answer to this latter question, are trans athletes winning everything, is simple — that's not the case."
Certain groups and foundations that support the rights of transgender people have already called for the removal of the law. The Trevor Project criticized the law as an attack on the transgender youth, who they say are already at a higher risk for mental health issues and suicidal thoughts compared with their cisgender peers.
Personally, I think that this issue is too complex and nuanced for me to have a particular opinion on the matter at this point. I do think, however, that the debate sparked by this law will persist for a while, and certain groups like the Trevor Project will not stop fighting until the law is repealed.
Sources:
Comments