Rant on Democrats

[Byrd]

Thank you all for responding.  As I said, I'm not nearly as eloquent as most of you and I can say, after reading these replies, I have some thinking to do.  

While all your replies centered on the "dressing room" angle of my post I didn't read much regarding the sports competition angle.  Again, here is where my mind is currently so maybe further replies from you all will, again, provide me something to think about.  Having been quite active in high school sports with a dabble (short) in college, I have to wonder what kind of feeling of success does a transgender male get from winning a competition against girls?  Some of the things you said about the dressing room could, I suppose, have a role in this, but to me, when I won something I felt pretty good about it unless I felt I somehow had an advantage and was expected to win.  Especially the stories where a biological male had competed against boys without much success then suddenly compete against girls and win.

So, I hope those of you who responded initially come back and give me the same thought provoking responses.

If you look at the numbers, there's no real advantage.

Yes, they win sometimes.  That's not unusual. They get beaten by a lot of women, too.

BUT... would you really sacrifice YOUR ability to have kids and your job and future career and spend upwards of $40,000 for surgery, drugs, clothing, makeup, hormones, and deal with decreased strength and puberty (again) AND change your behavior in public (bathroom behavior, new way of sitting, becoming less important when you speak) just to have a career as an athlete in a women's field where you are not guaranteed to win?  

Seems like a real loser move.

Like anyone else, they are quite happy when they win, but none of the transgender women I know are interested in sports.

[argentus]

The thing is, none of this is new.   The media focus has caused some of us to view transfolk as new and how to "wrangle" the phenomenon.   In the past, those people who presented as a female went to the women's loo; likewise, those that presented as male went to the men's, but perhaps chose a stall for personal reasons.   Those that presented as a female, but stepped up to a urinal in the men's, were often doing so for shock value.   

I have known many transfolk in my time, and still are in touch with a couple of them.   They are like everyone else, for the most part.   Most people don't want to be singled out, they just want to go through their life and be their best selves.   I have never once introduced myselt to someone and said, "hello, my name is __________, and I'm a heterosexual.   When asked, I have quipped that I am hetero, but epicurious.  

I don't think it matters much in the grand scheme; we have all been sharing bathrooms with lgbt all our lives, and it hasn't hurt any of us a bit.   

Where things get sticky, is where children are involved.   I personally don't believe that children should be given the ability to make adult decisions.   I grew up with a person born male, but all of us knew she was a girl.   She wasn't effeminate, but more a "tomboy" for lack of a better term.    I think a person should be of voting age to make the choice whether to alter their physiology.   I don't think parents should EVER be forced to allow their children to transition.   I think it will likely be necessary in the schools of the future to have unisexual bathrooms, with mostly stalls.    I saw a meme that had the classic stick figure of a male, then a stick figure with a triangular dress, then a stick figure with half a dress, then a dog, then an big-eyed alien, and the caption read:   "Whatever.  Just wash your hands."   Damn right.  

I think we will have to create another class of athletic competition.   I don't think it is fair to put born male against females.  It may be occasionally fair, however how to measure the fairness?   We can't put people through physical trials to measure their abilities.   I feel for trans folk, as I feel for all folk.  I can't imagine what it is like to have been born into a body that feels contrary to your self-image.   I wholly support everyone doing that which best suits their self-image.    I don't think trans people should be shunned, or discriminated against.   I think all people should be equal in the eyes of the law.  Regrettfully, some trans people don't have the .......... what to call it.......  classic look of their gender.   I think as long as they are happy, that is enough.