The necklace says it all
My controversial trans statements.
Since a clip of me talking about trans women in womenโs sports started making the rounds, I figured I should probably explain where I actually stand on a few of these issues.
Iโm trans. That doesnโt mean I automatically agree with every position associated with the trans community. These are my views based on what Iโve seen and experienced, and Iโm always open to better data or a better argument.
1. Trans women generally have an advantage in womenโs sports.
If someone went through male puberty and developed into an adult male before transitioning, I think there are legitimate questions about whether some physiological advantages remain. That doesnโt mean every trans woman can beat every non trans woman, and I donโt think every activity needs the same rules. Chess and contact sports obviously arenโt the same thing. But in competitive sports involving strength, speed, throwing, lifting or fighting, I donโt think the existing evidence is strong enough to dismiss fairness concerns.
2. Gender dysphoria is a mental illness.
I am NOT saying โtrans people are mentally ill.โ Iโm talking specifically about gender dysphoria. For me, it was a condition that caused distress and needed treatment. My treatment included therapy, hormones, transitioning and surgery. Treating it allowed me to become a healthy, functioning person. Calling something an illness doesnโt mean someone should be stigmatized for having it.
3. Trans women are not the same thing as women.
That also doesnโt mean I think trans women should be treated as men. In most of everyday society, I think it makes perfect sense for me to live and be treated as a woman. But there are specific circumstances, sports, some prison situations, certain medical contexts, where biological sex can matter. I donโt think acknowledging those differences invalidates my identity.
4. Iโm extremely cautious about medical gender-affirming care for minors.
Puberty blockers, hormones and surgery can have significant consequences, and I donโt think we have enough high-quality long-term evidence to pretend these decisions are simple. There may be cases where intervention is the better option, but I think it should be heavily gatekept and approached cautiously. I also donโt fault parents trying to make the best decision for their child either way.
You can disagree with me. Other trans people can disagree with me. I can also change my mind when presented with better evidence.
Being trans shouldnโt require subscribing to an entire package of political beliefs.
Full discussion on the new episode of The Jo Ellis Effect podcast