Right-wing conservatives and those who identify as "gender critical" are up in arms after World Eightball Pool Federation allows trans women to participate.
Of all the balderdash bans we’ve been subjected to, the chess ban is the worst. The misogynistic assumption that there’s somehow a purely mental/strategy advantage to being born male throws into stark relief how far we have yet to advance gender equality. Whether the feminists advocating for this sort of progress are TERFs or not, the stratification of genders in that way is an affront to the progress we’ve made as women, as society, on these issues for the last ~century.
Erin - thanks (as always) for the excellent reporting.
The issue here, of course, is not that conservatives really think that trans women are better at pool. The issue is hatred, bigotry, and the desire to eliminate trans people from all aspects of public life. Athletic and competition bans are just a first - and seemingly more palatable to the public - step in that direction. What they really want is much worse, and that’s why it’s so frightening and why these bans need to be strongly resisted.
People are claiming trans athletes have an "unfair biological advantage", but see, here's the thing: athletes in general have an "unfair biological advantage". Otherwise, they wouldn't be competitive. Also, in M->F transitions, muscle mass is lost, so there's no unfair advantage. The fact that this "unfair advantage" talking point is being extended to Chess and Pool shows that it was never about any "unfair biological advantage" and it was entirely about transmisia.
I'm just waiting for the time to come when transgender women won't even be allowed to attend a sporting event let alone participate in it, and I wish I were joking.
I mean, honestly it's already like that in Florida unless you're capable of holding your bladder for at least 5 to 6 hours at a minimum. I'm not so therfore I don't even attempt to attend the games I once enjoyed.
My condolences. My sister lives in Miami but she’s looking to get married in Brooklyn. (FTR, she’s cis and her fiancé is cis as well, but she’s bi and is looking to leave Florida since DerFührer ruined the state for queer people like her)
I tried to leave Florida back in June when it was time to renew my lease, but couldn't due to the cost of moving out of state. DeSantis unfortunately is no longer just the problem. He has focused his campaigning on transgender and lgbt issues so much in the media that it has spread his hate to the people of Florida. It's becoming more difficult for me to do my daily walks in my apartment complex because I fear being attacked. I normally live in stealth, but I told one neighbor whom I trusted that I was transgender. She then thought it was her civic duty to warn the neighborhood that I was trans, like I was some kind of criminal. Now I get threatened, snide remarks, people who turn the other way when they see me coming as if I'm toxic. I just don't see an end to any of this if Republicans are in charge.
Jeez, god, that is so horrible that you’re treated that way. It really infuriates me that DerFührer turned Florida from a place where *sone* queer people could live to a place where people like us are shunned and treated as sex pests. It really grinds my gears.
No one? No one’s gonna make the obvious joke? I’m gonna have to be the one? Darn.
The reason we’re banned is because we’re quite used to making a 4-6” gripping and sliding motion at waist level, and that’s 2-4” longer than what the ruling body has to do at home so they’re taking out their own problems on us. Still gives us an edge lol
That being said, HOW SAD IS YOUR LIFE THAT YOU GET PISSED AT LOSING AT POOL.
Of all the balderdash bans we’ve been subjected to, the chess ban is the worst. The misogynistic assumption that there’s somehow a purely mental/strategy advantage to being born male throws into stark relief how far we have yet to advance gender equality. Whether the feminists advocating for this sort of progress are TERFs or not, the stratification of genders in that way is an affront to the progress we’ve made as women, as society, on these issues for the last ~century.
Erin - thanks (as always) for the excellent reporting.
The issue here, of course, is not that conservatives really think that trans women are better at pool. The issue is hatred, bigotry, and the desire to eliminate trans people from all aspects of public life. Athletic and competition bans are just a first - and seemingly more palatable to the public - step in that direction. What they really want is much worse, and that’s why it’s so frightening and why these bans need to be strongly resisted.
You are spot on when you wrote...The issue is hatred, bigotry, and the desire to eliminate trans people from all aspects of public life.
What's next? A loser in the World Miming Competition complains of trans women's innate miming advantages 🤷♀️
People are claiming trans athletes have an "unfair biological advantage", but see, here's the thing: athletes in general have an "unfair biological advantage". Otherwise, they wouldn't be competitive. Also, in M->F transitions, muscle mass is lost, so there's no unfair advantage. The fact that this "unfair advantage" talking point is being extended to Chess and Pool shows that it was never about any "unfair biological advantage" and it was entirely about transmisia.
I'm just waiting for the time to come when transgender women won't even be allowed to attend a sporting event let alone participate in it, and I wish I were joking.
I wish you were joking too. 😢
I mean, honestly it's already like that in Florida unless you're capable of holding your bladder for at least 5 to 6 hours at a minimum. I'm not so therfore I don't even attempt to attend the games I once enjoyed.
My condolences. My sister lives in Miami but she’s looking to get married in Brooklyn. (FTR, she’s cis and her fiancé is cis as well, but she’s bi and is looking to leave Florida since DerFührer ruined the state for queer people like her)
I tried to leave Florida back in June when it was time to renew my lease, but couldn't due to the cost of moving out of state. DeSantis unfortunately is no longer just the problem. He has focused his campaigning on transgender and lgbt issues so much in the media that it has spread his hate to the people of Florida. It's becoming more difficult for me to do my daily walks in my apartment complex because I fear being attacked. I normally live in stealth, but I told one neighbor whom I trusted that I was transgender. She then thought it was her civic duty to warn the neighborhood that I was trans, like I was some kind of criminal. Now I get threatened, snide remarks, people who turn the other way when they see me coming as if I'm toxic. I just don't see an end to any of this if Republicans are in charge.
Jeez, god, that is so horrible that you’re treated that way. It really infuriates me that DerFührer turned Florida from a place where *sone* queer people could live to a place where people like us are shunned and treated as sex pests. It really grinds my gears.
Thank you, Erin. We’re so grateful to you for your work.
Unfairly dominating pool and chess? Is there anything trans people can’t do? Oh right, we can’t feel comfortable and safe like cis people do
There are few groups as sexist as GCs (formerly known as TERFs)
No one? No one’s gonna make the obvious joke? I’m gonna have to be the one? Darn.
The reason we’re banned is because we’re quite used to making a 4-6” gripping and sliding motion at waist level, and that’s 2-4” longer than what the ruling body has to do at home so they’re taking out their own problems on us. Still gives us an edge lol
That being said, HOW SAD IS YOUR LIFE THAT YOU GET PISSED AT LOSING AT POOL.