Staff Reports
A recent martial arts competition made headlines when several female athletes dropped out due to concerns about competing against transgender athletes. These courageous women didn’t want to risk injury or loss against men who identify as women. It’s disheartening to see how political correctness is disrupting the world of sports.
Female Athletes Forced to Compete Against ‘Trans Women’ Drop Out of Martial Arts Competition https://t.co/4rLNKawu2f
— persistantNagatha 🇺🇸🍊 (@kmcccomcastnet) November 16, 2023
Professional martial artist, Jayden Alexander, expressed her disappointment about having to drop out of the tournament. She spoke for many women who felt discouraged and scared by the presence of trans-identified males in their bracket. It’s outrageous that men can compete in women’s sports and prevent actual women from participating. This is not equality; it’s a disservice to the true essence of women’s sports.
Ansleigh Wilk, another athlete who withdrew from the competition, highlighted the fear many women have in speaking out against this issue. The prevailing narrative of labeling anyone who questions these unfair policies as “bigots” or “transphobic” is silencing their concerns. The right to fair competition and the preservation of women’s sports should not be sacrificed on the altar of wokeness.
To make matters worse, male transgender athlete Corissa Griffith won four gold medals in the women’s category, while Cordelia Gregory secured second place. These results only confirm what the female athletes had feared – competing against biological males is an unfair disadvantage for women. Men possess physical advantages that cannot be ignored, and it’s absurd to contend otherwise.
Both Alexander and Wilk shared their experiences of facing Gregory in the competition, noting the clear difference in strength and ability. It’s no surprise that fighting a biological male produced a different outcome than fighting against a woman. The disparity in physical strength is undeniable, and pretending otherwise is an insult to female athletes who have trained their whole lives to excel in their respective sports.
While the North American Grappling Association claimed to have a policy in place to inform females if their opponent was a biological male, it seems that enforcement of this policy was lacking. This lack of transparency only adds to the frustration felt by female athletes who were blindsided by the presence of transgender competitors. People deserve to know who they are competing against, and women should not be put in such an unfair position.
Thankfully, as of October 28, the NAGA revised its policy on transgender athletes. Moving forward, only cisgender females will compete in female divisions, while transgender females will have to compete in the men’s division. This revised policy aims to prevent future instances where transgender females enter women’s divisions. It’s a step in the right direction towards restoring fairness and integrity to women’s sports.
The concerns raised by these female athletes should not be dismissed as bigotry or transphobia. It is essential to protect women’s sports by ensuring fair competition based on biological sex. It’s time to put aside political correctness and prioritize the true spirit of sportsmanship and fairness. Our society should champion both inclusivity and fairness, and finding the right balance is crucial.
