♪ ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
John: WELCOME, WELCOME,
WELCOME TO "LAST WEEK TONIGHT"!
I'M JOHN OLIVER, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR JOINING US.
IT HAS BEEN A BUSY WEEK.
CORY BOOKER SPOKE FOR OVER 25
HOURS.
ELON MUSK TRIED AND FAILED TO
BUY AN ELECTION IN WISCONSIN,
AND OF COURSE, THIS HAPPENED.
THIS MORNING PRESIDENT TRUMP
DRAMATICALLY ESCALATING HIS
GLOBAL TRADE WAR, ANNOUNCING HIS
MOST SWEEPING SET OF TARIFFS
YET, ON GOODS FROM EVERY COUNTRY
THAT TRADES WITH THE
UNITED STATES.
THIS WILL BE INDEED THE
GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA.
IT'S COMING BACK.
John: OKAY, IF YOU MEAN
"GOLDEN AGE" THE WAY WE TEND TO
DESCRIBE THE LAST DECADE BEFORE
AN OLD PERSON DIES, THEN YES, IT
FEELS LIKE WE ARE VERY MUCH IN
THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA RIGHT
NOW.
THANK YOU.
NOW TO EXPLAIN HIS TARIFFS,
TRUMP HELPFULLY BROUGHT ALONG A
FUN VISUAL AID.
I THINK YOU CAN, FOR THE MOST
PART, SEE IT.
THOSE WITH GOOD EYES, WITH BAD
EYES.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO BRING-- IT'S
VERY WINDY OUT HERE.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO BRING OUT THE
BIG CHARTS BECAUSE IT HAD NO
CHANCE OF STANDING.
FORTUNATELY, WE CAME ARMED WITH
A LITTLE SMALLER CHART.
John: WELL, THAT IS SMART!
AND IT SHOWS.
THEY REALLY THOUGHT OF
EVERYTHING THAT MIGHT GO WRONG
WHILE ANNOUNCING THEIR PLAN TO
SHOOT THE ECONOMY IN THE DICK.
ALTHOUGH, I WILL POINT OUT, IF
WIND WAS A PROBLEM THERE-- AND
WE CHECKED WITH EXPERTS ON THIS
-- THE WHITE HOUSE DOES HAVE AN
"INSIDE PART."
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT CHART IS
RIDICULOUS FOR A NUMBER OF
REASONS.
FOR ONE THING, IT FEATURES AN
ESTIMATE OF "TARIFFS CHARGED TO
THE USA" BY OTHER COUNTRIES THAT
NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT, UNTIL A
FINANCIAL JOURNALIST REALIZED IT
WAS JUST HOW MUCH WE EXPORT TO
THAT COUNTRY, MINUS HOW MUCH WE
IMPORT FROM THEM, DIVIDED BY HOW
MUCH WE IMPORT.
WHICH IS JUST STUNNINGLY DUMB.
BECAUSE THOSE THINGS HAVE
NOTHING TO DO WITH TARIFFS.
IT'D BE LIKE TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF YOUR
HOME BY DIVIDING YOUR PHONE
NUMBER BY YOUR DOG'S AGE.
OR TAKING YOUR TEMPERATURE BY
MEASURING YOUR HEAD'S DISTANCE
TO THE SUN.
IT'S NOT GONNA GET YOU THE
ANSWER YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
NOW, THE WHITE HOUSE DISPUTED
THAT CLAIM, RELEASING THIS MORE
COMPLICATED-LOOKING EQUATION
THEY SAID THEY'D USED.
BUT PEOPLE QUICKLY POINTED OUT
THAT ONE SYMBOL MEANT "EXPORTS,"
ONE MEANT "IMPORTS," AND THE
OTHER TWO NUMBERS WERE VARIABLES
SET AT FOUR AND ONE-QUARTER, SO
THEY CANCELED EACH OTHER OUT,
MEANING IT'S THE SAME STUPID
EQUATION EVERYONE SAID IT WAS IN
THE FIRST PLACE.
AND LOOK, WE ALL KNEW IT WAS A
MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS SHOW
BECAME ME LITERALLY TEACHING YOU
MATH.
I'M JUST SURPRISED IT TOOK US 12
SEASONS.
BUT WAIT, BECAUSE SOMEHOW, IT
GETS EVEN DUMBER.
EVERY COUNTRY ON THE LIST
FACES AT LEAST 10% TARIFFS, EVEN
SMALL, REMOTE PLACES LIKE THE
HEARD AND MCDONALD ISLANDS.
THEY ARE NEAR ANTARCTICA, AND
ARE COVERED IN GLACIERS, HOME TO
MANY PENGUINS BUT NO PEOPLE.
John: OH, MY GOD.
IMAGINE GOING BACK TO 2015 AND
TELLING YOUR YOUNGER SELF,
"PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL ENTER A
TRADE WAR WITH A REMOTE ISLAND
OF PENGUINS."
THEY'D HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS
LIKE: WHAT ARE YOU TALKING
ABOUT, AND IS THIS REALLY WHAT
WE LOOK LIKE IN JUST TEN YEARS?
DO WE DRINK WATER AT ALL?
BECAUSE WE SHOWED.
THE MARKET IMMEDIATELY CRASHED
AFTER THE TARIFFS WERE
ANNOUNCED, AND MAYBE THE BEST
REACTION TO ALL THIS CAME FROM
THE CEO OF RESTORATION HARDWARE,
WHO WAS ACTUALLY ON AN EARNINGS
CALL LATER THAT DAY.
THIS IS HIM DISCOVERING WHAT WAS
HAPPENING TO HIS STOCK PRICE, IN
REAL TIME.
WHERE'S OUR STOCK NOW?
I MEAN, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, THE
STOCK WENT DOWN, YOU KNOW, BASED
ON SOME OF THE NUMBERS WE
REPORTED, AND THEN IT GOT KILLED
BECAUSE OF UH, UM, OH, REALLY?
OH, SHIT.
OKAY.
John: YEAH, THAT SUMS IT UP
PRETTY WELL.
IN FACT, I'M NOT SURE THERE'S A
BETTER ENCAPSULATION OF WHAT IT
FEELS LIKE TO LIVE THROUGH THIS
TRUMP PRESIDENCY THAN THOSE FIVE
WORDS: OH, REALLY?
OH, SHIT.
OKAY."
AND LOOK, THERE'LL CLEARLY BE
MORE TO SAY ABOUT THESE TARIFFS
GOING FORWARD.
BUT FOR NOW, WE'RE ACTUALLY
GOING TO START WITH OUR MAIN
STORY THIS WEEK.
AND IT CONCERNS AN ABSOLUTE
FIXATION OF THE RIGHT.
BECAUSE EVEN AS THE MARKET
CRASHED IN THE WAKE OF TRUMP'S
TARIFFS, FOX NEWS SPENT A LOT OF
TIME ON THIS.
A WOMEN'S FENCER IS DEFENDING
HER DECISION TO TAKE A KNEE TO
PROTEST HER TRANS OPPONENT
DESPITE GETTING DISQUALIFIED FOR
HER FORFEIT.
A FEMALE FENCER WHO HAS
DEVOTED YEARS OF HER LIFE TO THE
SPORT WAS JUST DISQUALIFIED.
THIS IS THE CIVIL RIGHTS
ISSUE OF THE HOUR: WOMEN'S
SPORTS.
HERE'S THE STORY THAT
EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE
INTERESTED IN.
A FEMALE FENCER STANDS UP FOR
FAIRNESS IN WOMEN'S SPORTS.
John: WAIT, THAT'S THE STORY
THAT EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE
INTERESTED IN?
ARE YOU SURE?
THE STORY ABOUT FENCING AND NOT
THE ONE THAT'S CAUSED THE STOCK
TICKER IN THE CORNER OF YOUR
SCREEN TO GO BRIGHT RED LIKE AN
INFLAMED HEMORRHOID?
ALSO, I CHALLENGE THOSE ANCHORS
TO TELL ME ONE THING ABOUT
FENCING BESIDES LINDSAY LOHAN
DID IT AGAINST HERSELF IN
"THE PARENT TRAP."
I DON'T THINK YOU CAN'T DO IT.
THE ISSUE OF TRANS ATHLETES HAS
BECOME VERY IMPORTANT TO
CONSERVATIVES IN GENERAL, AND
DONALD TRUMP IN PARTICULAR.
HE TALKED ABOUT IT AT LENGTH IN
HIS ADDRESS TO CONGRESS, AND
SIGNED AN ORDER TITLED "KEEPING
MEN OUT OF WOMEN'S SPORTS,"
WHICH PROMISED TO RESCIND ALL
FUNDS FROM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
THAT ALLOWED TRANS WOMEN AND
GIRLS TO COMPETE.
AND AT THE SIGNING CEREMONY, HE
AD-LIBBED THE CREEPIEST
COMPLIMENT POSSIBLE.
WE'RE DEFENDING THE RIGHTS
AND SAFETY AND PRIDE OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE INCLUDING OUR
GREAT GREAT GREAT FEMALE
WHAT ATHLETES YOU ARE, TOO.
AND YOU KNOW.
I'M NOT ALLOWED TO SAY THIS
POLITICALLY, IT COULD END MY
CAREER-- THEY'RE REALLY
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE.
THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE.
BUT YOU KNOW, LIKE EVERYTHING
ELSE IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT
TODAY.
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO SAY THAT,
BECAUSE IF YOU CALL A WOMAN OR A
GIRL BEAUTIFUL, THAT'S THE END
OF YOUR CAREER.
BUT LET'S TAKE A CHANCE ON IT,
MIKE, LET'S TAKE A CHANCE.
John: OKAY, TO BE COMPLETELY
FAIR TO TRUMP, I WILL SAY HIS
UNDERSTANDING OF WOMEN'S ISSUES
IS COMPARABLE TO HIS
UNDERSTANDING OF FOREIGN POLICY,
DOMESTIC POLICY, TRADE, THE
ECONOMY, THE CONCEPT OF CONSENT,
HUMAN EMPATHY, AND ALL BUT ONE
OF HIS CHILDREN'S NAMES.
TRUMP LEADS EVERY CONVERSATION
WITH A PSYCHOSEXUAL ENERGY THAT
MAKES "THE WHITE LOTUS" LOOK
LIKE THE TELETUBBIES.
OH, DID THE INCEST STORYLINE
BOTHER YOU?
DONALD TRUMP JOKED ABOUT DATING
HIS OWN DAUGHTER ON "THE VIEW!"
HE SAID THAT ON A FUCKING
MORNING SHOW!
AT LEAST "WHITE LOTUS" HAS THE
DECENCY TO AIR IN THE EVENINGS,
RIGHT HERE ON THE INCEST
NETWORK.
TRUMP'S ORDER HAS ALREADY
PROMPTED THE NCAA TO INSTITUTE A
BAN ON TRANS ATHLETES
PARTICIPATING IN WOMEN'S SPORTS.
BUT HE IS NOT DONE.
HE'S ALSO TRYING TO PULL $175
MILLION IN FUNDING FROM UPENN
FOR ALLOWING ONE TRANS ATHLETE
TO COMPETE THREE YEARS AGO, AND
WHEN MAINE INDICATED IT'D RESIST
HIS BAN, HE THREATENED TO CUT
OFF ALL ITS FEDERAL FUNDING,
DESPITE THE WHOLE STATE
APPARENTLY HAVING JUST TWO TRANS
GIRLS, TOTAL, COMPETING IN
GIRLS' SPORTS.
TWO!
I KNOW YOU MIGHT BE THINKING...
OKAY, BUT IN MAINE 2 KIDS IS
LIKE HALF THE KIDS, RIGHT?
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY NOT!
THEY'VE GOT MORE!
THIS ISSUE IS AN OBSESSION FOR
REPUBLICANS.
LAST YEAR, THEY SPENT OVER $116
MILLION JUST ON TV ADS FEATURING
TRANS ATHLETES.
AND THE RELENTLESS FOCUS ON THIS
OVER THE YEARS HAS HAD A
MEANINGFUL IMPACT, WITH ONE POLL
SHOWING MORE THAN 6 IN 10 ADULTS
SAY TRANS GIRLS AND WOMEN SHOULD
NOT BE ALLOWED TO COMPETE IN
GIRLS' AND WOMEN'S SPORTS
INCLUDING HIGH SCHOOL AND YOUTH
LEVELS.
25 STATES HAVE NOW IMPOSED BANS
ON THEM COMPETING IN SCHOOLS.
EVEN GAVIN NEWSOM-- PICTURED AS
THE VILLAIN IN A RYAN MURPHY
PRODUCTION-- RECENTLY SAID HE
THOUGHT TRANS ATHLETES BEING
ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN
WOMEN'S SPORTS IS "DEEPLY
UNFAIR," WITHOUT REALLY
ELABORATING ON WHAT HE MEANT BY
THAT.
AND FOR TRANS KIDS IMPACTED BY
THESE BANS, WHO JUST WANT TO
PLAY SPORTS WITH THEIR FRIENDS,
IT'S BEEN HARD-- AS THIS
15-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN
NEW HAMPSHIRE EXPLAINS.
IT'S BEEN STRESSFUL AND
DIFFICULT.
IT'S BEEN ANNOYING.
I FELT VERY ANNOYED AND UPSET
THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING AND
THAT IT'S BEEN HAPPENING TOWARDS
A VULNERABLE COMMUNITY, LIKE,
THE TRANS COMMUNITY.
John: YEAH.
AND HONESTLY, "ANNOYING" IS AN
UNDERSTATEMENT.
ANNOYING IS WHAT YOU SAY WHEN
YOUR FRIEND IS LATE, OR YOUR
WIFI IS SPOTTY, OR WHEN YOU'RE A
CHICKEN MINDING YOUR OWN
BUSINESS AND SUDDENLY YOU'RE ON
THE NEWS.
YOU'RE HANGING OUT, EATING DIRTY
SNOW WITH SEVEN OR EIGHT CLOSE
FRIENDS, AND THEN BOOM-- ALL OF
A SUDDEN THE AP IS DOING A CLOSE
UP OF YOUR FEET?
THAT'S ANNOYING!
BUT I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE STRONG
OPINIONS ON THIS SUBJECT.
IN OUR POST-ELECTION SHOW, I
SAID "THERE ARE VANISHINGLY FEW
TRANS GIRLS COMPETING IN HIGH
SCHOOL SPORTS ANYWHERE, AND EVEN
IF THERE WERE MORE, TRANS
KIDS-- LIKE ALL KIDS-- VARY IN
ATHLETIC ABILITY AND THERE IS NO
EVIDENCE THAT THEY POSE ANY
THREAT TO SAFETY OR FAIRNESS."
AFTER THAT SHOW AIRED,
JK ROWLING HERSELF ISSUED THE
SINGLE LONGEST TWEET I'VE EVER
SEEN IN MY LIFE, IN WHICH SHE
CLAIMED, AMONG OTHER THINGS,
THAT I AM "HAPPY TO WATCH
FEMALES SUFFER INJURY,
HUMILIATION, AND THE LOSS OF
SPORTING OPPORTUNITIES TO
BOLSTER AN ELITIST POST-MODERN
IDEOLOGY."
AND HONESTLY, IT FEELS A BIT
WEIRD TO CATCH THAT MUCH HEAT
FROM THE CREATOR OF
"HARRY POTTER," ESPECIALLY WHEN
I CLEARLY LOOK LIKE WHAT
WOULD'VE HAPPENED IF THEY'D JUST
LEFT HIM IN THAT CUPBOARD FOR
THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
NOW, I STAND BY EVERYTHING I
SAID IN THAT EPISODE.
BUT I WILL CONCEDE THAT THIS
SUBJECT IS MORE COMPLICATED THAN
"PEOPLE SHOULD USE THE BATHROOM
THAT CORRESPONDS WITH THEIR
GENDER IDENTITY."
AND SINCE TRANS PARTICIPATION IN
SPORTS SEEMS FOR SOME REASON TO
BE AT THE CENTER OF OUR POLITICS
RIGHT NOW, IT FELT LIKE TONIGHT
MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO TALK
ABOUT IT AT REAL LENGTH.
AND IN DOING SO, WE'RE GOING TO
TRY AND EXPLAIN A FEW THINGS:
WHAT THE FACTS CAN ACTUALLY TELL
US ABOUT TRANS ATHLETES
REGARDING COMPETITION AND
SAFETY.
WHERE MUCH OF THIS SEEMS TO BE
COMING FROM-- BECAUSE IT DIDN'T
CROP UP OUT OF NOWHERE.
AND WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS
MIGHT BE GOING.
AND LET'S START BY
ACKNOWLEDGING: MANY PEOPLE DO
HAVE GOOD-FAITH QUESTIONS ABOUT
THIS, EVEN IF THEY'RE ASKING
THEM A LITTLE CLUMSILY.
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF
THOSE QUESTIONS ABOUT FAIRNESS,
COMING FROM A LESS-THAN-IDEAL
SOURCE.
LET'S SAY SERENA'S IN HER
PRIME.
AND-- AND-- AND A TRAN-- YOU
KNOW-- AND-- AND WHO KNOWS,
YOU MAKE UP THE PERSON, RIGHT?
SO, YOU KNOW, SOME-- LET'S NOT
MAKE UP THE PERSON.
LET'S SAY THAT-- THAT
RAFAEL NADAL, YOU KNOW, HAS SOME
ISSUE-- OR, YOU KNOW, WANTS TO
TRANSITION, AND-- I JUST, AND
WINS THE WIMBLEDON FINAL, OR,
YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WINS THE
100-METER DASH AT THE OLYMPIC--
I-- I JUST-- I THINK THAT'S
A-- I THINK THAT'S A NET
NEGATIVE.
John: NOW, CLEARLY, WHEN IT
COMES TO QUESTIONS OF RIGHT AND
WRONG IN SPORTS, LANCE ARMSTRONG
MIGHT BE THE LAST PERSON YOU'D
CALL, JUST AFTER THE 1919
CHICAGO WHITE SOX AND THE EAR
CHUNK THAT MIKE TYSON BIT OFF.
BUT TO BE FAIR: I CAN SEE HOW--
AT THE MOST ELITE LEVEL OF
SPORTS, AN INSTANTANEOUS SWITCH
LIKE THAT, WOULD CONFER AN
ADVANTAGE.
IT HASN'T HAPPENED.
AND, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, IN
TENNIS, THE WTA ALREADY HAS
GUIDELINES FOR TRANS INCLUSION,
REQUIRING ATHLETES MAINTAIN
STRICT HORMONE LEVELS FOR AT
LEAST TWO YEARS BEFORE
COMPETING, WITH PROCESSES FOR
DISPUTE RESOLUTIONS IF
NECESSARY.
THEY ARE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT
THIS AND I PRESUME TO DO THAT.
THE THING IS, HYPOTHETICALS LIKE
THAT CIRCULATE CONSTANTLY, AND
OFTEN CENTER AROUND SOMEONE
TRANSITIONING SOLELY TO GAIN A
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.
BUT AS THIS TRANS RESEARCHER
POINTS OUT, THAT'S AN ABSURD
PROPOSITION.
TRANS WOMEN DON'T TRANSITION
FOR SPORTS.
NO-- NO ONE HAS EVER SAID, "OH,
YEAH, I THINK I'D LIKE TO BE A
WOMAN SO I CAN DO WELL IN
WOMEN'S SPORTS."
WHEN YOU GO THROUGH A GENDER
TRANSITION, YOU LOSE SO MANY
THINGS IN LIFE.
MY OWN MOTHER SAID SHE NEVER
WANTED TO SPEAK TO ME AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, I LOST FRIENDS,
FAMILY, GOT DIVORCED.
YOU'D GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT
JUST TO WIN A MEDAL IN SPORTS?
NO.
TRANS PEOPLE TRANSITION BECAUSE
IT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN
LIVE HAPPILY.
John: RIGHT!
NO ONE SAYS "I'M GOING TO
TRANSITION JUST FOR THE SAKE OF
SPORTS," THE SAME WAY NO ONE
SAYS "COULD YOU PLEASE SEND ME
MORE MESSAGES ABOUT TWO-FACTOR
AUTHENTICATION?"
OR "WHEN I WALK DOWN THE AISLE,
I'D LIKE A SOLO VIOLIN COVER OF
BAWITDABA BY KID ROCK."
THAT'S JUST A MADE-UP PERSON.
STILL, LET'S ENGAGE WITH THE
UNDERLYING PREMISE OF THAT
QUESTION FROM THE WORLD'S MOST
FAMOUS SPORTS CHEATER: THAT
THOSE ASSIGNED MALE AT BIRTH ARE
AUTOMATICALLY GOING TO HAVE
CERTAIN, IMMUTABLE PHYSICAL
ADVANTAGES.
THAT GETS RAISED CONSTANTLY.
WHICH IS WHY WE'RE GOING TO
SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME TALKING
ABOUT TRANS WOMEN AND GIRLS--
EVEN THOUGH, IN THESE FIVE
STATES, THESE BANS IMPACT TRANS
BOYS IN SCHOOLS TOO.
IT IS OBVIOUSLY TRUE THAT, ON
AVERAGE, CISGENDER MEN AND
POST-PUBESCENT BOYS HAVE SOME
SPECIFIC ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
ADVANTAGES.
THOUGH THE RELATIVE SIZE OF THAT
ADVANTAGE ALSO DEPENDS ON THE
SPORT, AND THE EVENT.
IN SWIMMING, FOR INSTANCE, MALE
ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE ADVANTAGE
IS ROUGHLY 13% IN THE 50 METER
FREESTYLE, BUT LESS THAN 6% IN
THE 1500M FREE.
WHICH IS STILL CLEARLY
SIGNIFICANT.
BUT IN GENERAL, THERE IS A LOT
OF OVERLAP IN THE AVERAGE
PERFORMANCE RANGES OF MEN AND
WOMEN-- BASICALLY, IT'S NOT THE
CASE THAT ANY MAN IS GOING TO BE
STRONGER, OR MORE ATHLETIC, THAN
EVERY WOMAN.
WHICH IS SOMETIMES WHAT GETS
IMPLIED HERE, INCLUDING BY
DONALD TRUMP, WHO BROUGHT RILEY
GAINES, THE FORMER COLLEGE
SWIMMER WHO'S BECOME ONE OF THE
MOST PROMINENT VOICES ON THIS
ISSUE, ON STAGE TO SAY THIS.
JUST TO SHOW YOU HOW
RIDICULOUS IT IS-- LOOK AT ME.
I'M MUCH BIGGER AND MUCH
STRONGER THAN HER.
THERE'S NO WAY SHE COULD BEAT ME
IN SWIMMING.
DO WE ALL AGREE?
HUH?
John: I DON'T AGREE.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE
78-YEAR-OLD PRESIDENT TRY TO
SWIM IN WATER AGAINST A FORMER
D1 SWIMMER.
I'D LIKE TO BEAR WITNESS TO THAT
EVENT AND WHATEVER HAPPENS AFTER
IT AS A RESULT OF IT OCCURRING.
BUT CRUCIALLY, WHEN IT COMES TO
TRANS ATHLETES WHO'VE MEDICALLY
TRANSITIONED, STUDIES OF CIS
ATHLETES ARE NOT NECESSARILY
RELEVANT.
A LOT OF MEDICAL
GENDER-AFFIRMING TREATMENTS,
LIKE HORMONE THERAPY, HAVE A
MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON BODY AND
HORMONE COMPOSITION.
SO THE QUESTION THEN BECOMES,
WHAT DO THOSE IMPACTS MEAN FOR
ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE?
WE SPOKE TO SCIENTISTS ON ALL
SIDES OF THIS ISSUE AND THE ONE
THING THEY ACTUALLY AGREE ON IS
THAT-- IN PART BECAUSE THE
NUMBER OF TRANS ATHLETES IS SO
SMALL-- THE BODY OF RESEARCH
SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THEM IS
EXTREMELY LIMITED.
THERE ARE A BUNCH OF STUDIES
COMPARING SPECIFIC ANATOMICAL
FEATURES LIKE MUSCLE MASS IN
WOMEN WHO TRANSITION, BUT WHICH
DON'T DIRECTLY SPEAK TO THEIR
IMPACT ON ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE.
BUT WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO FIND 12
STUDIES THAT ACTUALLY TESTED
TRANS ADULT WOMEN'S PHYSICAL
FITNESS IN A LAB OR OTHER
PERFORMANCE SCENARIO.
EIGHT HAVE A SAMPLE SIZE OF LESS
THAN 20.
AND TWO ARE OF A SINGLE ATHLETE.
AND LOOK, I DON'T HAVE ANY
SCIENTIFIC EXPERIENCE, EVEN
THOUGH I LOOK LIKE A CROSS
BETWEEN A SCIENTIST AND THE
PROFOUNDLY SICK MICE HE'S
STUDYING, BUT YOU PROBABLY
SHOULDN'T DRAW BROAD CONCLUSIONS
OFF A SAMPLE SIZE OF "ONE."
THOSE TWELVE STUDIES GENERALLY
FIND THAT MEDICALLY
TRANSITIONING DOES IMPACT TRANS
WOMEN'S PERFORMANCE, BUT
DISAGREE ON HOW, OR BY HOW MUCH.
THAT RESEARCHER YOU SAW EARLIER
ACTUALLY PUBLISHED THE ONLY
LONGITUDINAL STUDY TO DATE OF
MULTIPLE ATHLETES, STUDYING THE
IMPACT OF TRANSITIONING ON EIGHT
LONG-DISTANCE RUNNERS.
SHE FOUND, AFTER AT LEAST A YEAR
ON HORMONE THERAPY, THEIR RACE
TIMES TURNED OUT TO BE MORE
ATHLETICALLY SIMILAR TO THOSE OF
CISGENDER WOMEN THAN CISGENDER
MEN.
BUT SHE HERSELF WILL TELL YOU:
THE STUDY WAS LIMITED, AND ITS
CONCLUSIONS WERE NUANCED.
HERE SHE IS, EXPLAINING WHAT WE
DO AND DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT.
IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY TRUE THAT
TRANS WOMEN WILL MAINTAIN
ADVANTAGES IN SOME SPORTS,
PROBABLY NOT SO MUCH IN
ENDURANCE SPORTS, BUT IN SIZE
AND STRENGTH SPORTS.
TRANS WOMEN WILL ALSO HAVE SOME
PHYSIOLOGICAL DISADVANTAGES.
OUR LARGER FRAMES ARE NOW BEING
POWERED BY REDUCED MUSCLE MASS
AND REDUCED AEROBIC CAPACITY,
AND THAT CAN LEAD TO
DISADVANTAGES IN TERMS LIKE
QUICKNESS, RECOVERY, ENDURANCE,
THINGS THAT MAYBE AREN'T QUITE
AS OBVIOUS AS BEING BIGGER AND
STRONGER.
John: RIGHT!
BIGGER AND STRONGER BODIES ARE
NOT AUTOMATICALLY ADVANTAGED IN
EVERY SCENARIO.
I MEAN PUT THE ROCK IN A PURE
BARRE CLASS AND SEE WHAT
HAPPENS.
I MEAN, WE KNOW WHAT WOULD
HAPPEN, HE'D TAKE A VIDEO OF
HIMSELF, CAPTION IT MAD RESPECT
TO THESE MAMAS-- EVERYONE GO
SEE "MOANA 2" AND TRY TO USE IT
TO SELL HIS TEQUILA BEFORE
EATING 13,000 PANCAKES AND
DRINKING A COW.
WE KNOW WHAT'D HAPPEN!
BUT THE DEGREE OF DIFFERENCE
HERE MATTERS, BECAUSE WE EXPECT
A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DIFFERENCES
IN ATHLETICS.
TALLER BASKETBALL PLAYERS ARE
EXPECTED TO COMPETE AGAINST
SHORTER ONES.
FASTER SOCCER PLAYERS COMPETE
AGAINST SLOWER ONES.
MICHAEL PHELPS WAS ALLOWED TO
COMPETE WITH OTHER SWIMMERS
DESPITE BEING PART DOLPHIN.
AND CRUCIALLY, NONE OF THE
STUDIES I'VE MENTIONED SO FAR
BEAR MUCH RELEVANCE TO WHAT
THESE NEW LAWS TARGET, WHICH IS
YOUTH SPORTS, USUALLY OF ALL
AGES.
AND THE RESEARCH THERE IS EVEN
MORE SCANT.
WE HAVE NO RESEARCH ABOUT HOW
BEING TRANS, OR UNDERGOING
GENDER AFFIRMING TREATMENT,
IMPACTS ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE IN
TEENS.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO KIDS BEFORE
THE ONSET OF PUBERTY, I COULD
TALK ABOUT THE STUDIES SHOWING
THE SUBTLE PERFORMANCE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BOYS AND
GIRLS, BUT I'D ARGUE WHEN YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT 7-YEAR-OLDS, IN
A PRACTICAL MATTER, THAT'S A
POINT WHERE LOTS OF SCHOOL
SPORTS ARE COED ANYWAY, AND
DIFFERENCES IN SIZE CAN BE AS
MUCH TO DO WITH WHETHER A KID'S
BORN IN OCTOBER OR APRIL.
AND AT THIS POINT, YOU MIGHT BE
SAYING, "I DON'T NEED TO WAIT
FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.
THIS IS COMMON SENSE, AND I KNOW
WHAT I'VE SEEN ONLINE."
BUT A LOT OF WHAT YOU'VE SEEN
MAY BE NOT QUITE WHAT YOU THINK
IT IS, BOTH WHEN IT COMES TO
TRANS ATHLETES' IMPACT ON
COMPETITION, OR SAFETY.
AND LET'S START WITH
COMPETITION.
BECAUSE THERE'S A BIG NUMBER YOU
TEND TO HEAR A LOT.
LISTEN TO THIS: A SHOCKING
REPORT FROM THE UNITED NATIONS
STATES OVER 600 FEMALE ATHLETES
HAVE LOST CLOSE TO 900 MEDALS TO
TRANSGENDER OPPONENTS.
FEMALE ATHLETES HAVE LOST
NEARLY 900 MEDALS TO TRANSGENDER
ATHLETES.
YOU HAVE THE UNITED NATIONS
STUDY COME OUT NOT LONG AGO,
ABOUT 900 MEDALS FOR FEMALES
THAT ENDED UP GOING TO
TRANSGENDER ATHLETES.
John: YEAH, 900 MEDALS.
THAT'S A GO-TO STATISTIC.
IT WAS EVEN CITED ON THE FLOOR
OF THE SENATE DURING THEIR
DEBATE OVER A TRANS SPORTS BAN,
AND FEATURED PROMINENTLY IN JK
ROWLING'S LATEST TOME.
BUT WE GOT CURIOUS ABOUT THAT
NUMBER, SO WE LOOKED AT THAT
REPORT, AND IT TURNS OUT, FIRST,
IT WASN'T PRODUCED BY THE U.N.
IT WAS SUBMITTED TO IT BY A
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR, WHO HERSELF
SAID ITS FINDINGS DO NOT
NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF
THE U.N.
AND IF YOU GO ONLINE TO THE
FOOTNOTE IT CITES, AND CLICK ON
IT, YOU GET SENT TO THIS
WEBSITE, "SHE WON," WHERE ANYONE
CAN SUBMIT AN INSTANCE OF A CIS
WOMAN LOSING TO A TRANS WOMAN,
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, IN ANY
COMPETITION, BIG OR SMALL.
THE AUTHOR OF THAT REPORT
INSISTED TO US "I DID NOT RELY
ONLY ON THIS SOURCE," BUT I WILL
SAY: THE NUMBERS SHE CITES DO
MATCH WHAT WAS ON THE SITE BACK
THEN, AND THEY INCLUDED
COMPETITIONS ALL THE WAY BACK TO
2001, AND DOWN TO THE LEVEL OF A
"FUN RUN" IN TOPEKA, KANSAS AND
AN IRISH DANCE COMPETITION, AS
WELL AS ACTIVITIES WHERE GENDER
CONFERS NO ADVANTAGE, LIKE
POKER.
ALSO, OVER 100 ENTRIES ON THE
LIST ARE IN THE FIELD OF DISC
GOLF.
WHICH-- IF YOU'RE UNFAMILIAR--
INVOLVES FRISBEES BEING THROWN
INTO THIS THING, SOME KIND OF
GUANTANAMO FOR BIRDS.
AND AS IF THAT WEREN'T ENOUGH,
THE WAY THEY GOT TO THAT 900
NUMBER HAS TO DO WITH HOW THEY
COUNTED THE WINS.
BECAUSE ON THE LIST, ONE TRANS
WOMAN FINISHING FIRST COUNTS AS
THREE DENIED MEDALS.
THE LOGIC BEING THE SECOND-PLACE
FINISHER SHOULD'VE COME FIRST,
THE THIRD-PLACE FINISHER
SHOULD'VE COME SECOND, AND THE
FOURTH-PLACE FINISHER SHOULD'VE
COME THIRD.
AND LOOK, SOME WILL ARGUE IT
DOESN'T MATTER HOW MINOR THE
COMPETITION, THE WOMEN ON THE
LIST WERE ALL UNFAIRLY DEPRIVED
OF THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE.
BUT EVEN SOME OF THOSE WOMEN
DON'T FEEL THAT WAY.
THIS ONE, A DISC GOLFER, HAS
PUBLICLY STATED SHE'S "HAPPY TO
SEE TRANS PEOPLE IN DISC GOLF."
AND AN AMATEUR CYCLIST NAMED
KRISTEN CHALMERS IS ACTUALLY ON
THE LIST TWICE, BECAUSE FOR SOME
REASON, A SINGLE RACE SHE LOST
IS ON THERE UNDER TWO DIFFERENT
SPELLINGS OF HER NAME.
SHE CAME IN THIRD, BEHIND TWO
TRANS WOMEN, BUT SHE'S MADE IT
CLEAR-- THEY'RE HER FRIENDS AND
SHE HAS NO PROBLEM COMPETING
WITH THEM.
I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE
RIDICULOUS TO SAY THAT MY LIFE
IS BEING RUINED BY GETTING THIRD
IN THIS.
IT WOULD BE RIDICULOUS TO
SACRIFICE OTHER PEOPLE GETTING
TO HAVE FUN IN A SPORT THAT THEY
LOVE ON THE WEEKENDS SO THAT I
COULD SAY I WAS THE STATE
CHAMPION.
John: YEAH.
YOU CAN TELL SHE'S NOT UPSET,
BECAUSE A, SHE'S GIGGLING
THROUGH THAT INTERVIEW, AND B,
THAT'S A VERY HAPPY-LOOKING
PHOTO.
I HAVE, AND THIS IS TRUE, NEVER
ONCE SMILED THAT FREELY IN MY
LIFE.
LOOK HOW JOYFUL THEY ARE!
THAT LOOKS LIKE AN AD FOR
CYCLING, OR FOR HAVING FRIENDS,
OR, HONESTLY?
JUST FOR MUD.
SO FOR ALL THE TALK OF HOW TRANS
WOMEN ARE SO DOMINANT, THEY'LL
SPELL THE END OF WOMEN'S SPORTS,
THE NUMBER PEOPLE KEEP CITING TO
PROVE THAT HAS A PRETTY BIG
THUMB ON THE SCALE.
AND EVEN THE FAMOUS INDIVIDUAL
CASES ARE SOMETIMES MISSING A
LOT OF CONTEXT.
YOU MAY'VE SEEN THIS PHOTO OF
TWO TRANS HIGH-SCHOOL RUNNERS IN
CONNECTICUT COMING FIRST AND
SECOND AT A STATE TRACK MEET.
THEY WERE THE SUBJECT OF A
LAWSUIT CLAIMING, AMONG OTHER
THINGS, THEIR PARTICIPATION
WASN'T JUST UNFAIR, IT
THREATENED TO DEPRIVE THEIR
COMPETITORS OF SCHOLARSHIPS.
BUT YOU SHOULD KNOW, ONE OF THE
PLAINTIFFS ACTUALLY BEAT ONE OF
THOSE GIRLS TWICE, TWO DAYS
AFTER THE SUIT WAS FILED.
ALSO, MOST OF THE PLAINTIFFS
ENDED UP GETTING SCHOLARSHIPS,
WHILE THESE TWO, DIDN'T.
BUT THE MOST FAMOUS EXAMPLE IS
PROBABLY LIA THOMAS.
AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, SHE'S A
SWIMMER WHO INITIALLY COMPETED
ON THE UNIVERSITY OF
PENNSYLVANIA MEN'S TEAM--
INCLUDING ONE YEAR WHILE
UNDERGOING HORMONE THERAPY AS A
PART OF HER MEDICAL TRANSITION,
AS PER THE NCAA'S RULES AT THE
TIME.
SHE MADE NATIONAL HEADLINES
AFTER SHE WON THE NCAA
CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE WOMEN'S 500
FREESTYLE.
SHE GOT A GOOD TIME IN THAT RACE
-- HER BEST OF THE SEASON--
ALTHOUGH IT WAS ALSO A FULL NINE
SECONDS BEHIND THE RECORD SET BY
KATIE LEDECKY.
IT'S ALSO THE ONLY RACE SHE WON
AT THAT MEET.
SHE CAME IN 8TH IN THE 100
FREESTYLE.
AND, IN WHAT'S WEIRDLY HER MOST
CONSEQUENTIAL RACE, SHE TIED FOR
FIFTH IN THE 200 FREE WITH RILEY
GAINES, WHO CATAPULTED TO
CONSERVATIVE STARDOM OFF THE
BACK OF THAT RACE.
AND I'LL LET RILEY HERSELF TELL
YOU THE STORY OF HOW LIA THOMAS
AND THE NCAA WRONGED HER.
I LOOK UP AT THE BOARD.
BEFORE I EVEN LOOKED AT MY NAME,
I LOOKED AT THOMAS' NAME, AND I
SAW THE NUMBER FIVE.
AND I LOOK BESIDE MY NAME AND
THERE'S A FIVE.
THE NCAA OFFICIAL LOOKS AT
THOMAS AND MYSELF AND SAYS,
"GREAT JOB, BUT YOU GUYS TIED,
AND WE ONLY HAVE ONE TROPHY, SO
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THIS TROPHY
TO LIA."
THOMAS HELD THE TROPHY FOR
FIFTH PLACE.
GAINES HELD THE ONE FOR SIXTH.
THEY TOLD ME WHEN PICTURES
WERE BEING TAKEN, THOMAS HAD TO
HAVE THE TROPHY, WHICH JUST
REDUCED IT DOWN TO A PHOTO OP.
I FELT SO BELITTLED.
I FELT SO BETRAYED.
John: OKAY, SO A FEW THINGS:
FIRST, THAT'S A STORY ABOUT HOW
LIA THOMAS PREVENTED RILEY
GAINES FROM GETTING FIFTH PLACE
INSTEAD OF FIFTH PLACE.
SECOND, THOSE TROPHIES LOOK
ABSOLUTELY IDENTICAL.
THIRD, YES, IT WAS A PHOTO OP,
IN THE SENSE THAT EVERYBODY
ARRANGED THEMSELVES FOR THE
PURPOSES OF TAKING A PHOTO.
AND WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
PHOTO OPS, I DON'T KNOW, MAN.
YOU WERE ON STAGE AT CPAC SO AN
OBJECTIVELY DROWNABLE MAN COULD
ANNOUNCE THAT HE'D BEAT YOU IN A
RACE.
THAT'S ABOUT AS PHOTO OPPY AS IT
IS EVER GONNA GET.
SO JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR,
LIA THOMAS DIDN'T TAKE ANYTHING
FROM RILEY GAINES.
IN FACT, YOU COULD ARGUE, SHE
GAVE A LOT TO HER, AS GAINES
LATER DECIDED TO FORGO DENTAL
SCHOOL IN ORDER TO BE AN
ACTIVIST AND SPEAKER.
SHE NOW HAS HER OWN ADVOCACY
CENTER, AND HAS PERSONALLY
LOBBIED MULTIPLE STATE
LEGISLATURES FOR BANS, ALL TO
ADDRESS THE THREAT POSED TO
WOMEN'S SPORTS BY A WOMAN WHO
SWAM EXACTLY AS FAST AS SHE DID,
TO THE LITERAL HUNDREDTH OF A
SECOND.
SO, FROM THE "900 MEDALS" TO THE
SCHOLARSHIPS THESE GIRLS DIDN'T
GET, TO THE MOST FAMOUS
FIFTH-PLACE FINISHER IN HUMAN
HISTORY, THE COMPETITION
ARGUMENT IS ALREADY A LOT WEAKER
THAN IT TENDS TO GET PRESENTED.
SO WHAT ABOUT SAFETY?
WELL, FIRST, IN PLENTY OF
SPORTS, LIKE TRACK AND SWIMMING,
THERE IS NO SAFETY THREAT,
BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT CONTACT
SPORTS.
BUT IN OTHERS, LIKE BASKETBALL
AND VOLLEYBALL, THERE CLEARLY IS
SOME AMOUNT OF CONTACT, EITHER
WITH ANOTHER BODY, OR WITH A
BALL.
BUT EVEN THERE, THE BIG
ANECDOTES THAT GET THROWN AROUND
TEND TO BE MORE COMPLICATED.
THE MOST FAMOUS EXAMPLE CONCERNS
PAYTON MCNABB, A THREE-SPORT
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE WHO WAS HIT
IN THE FACE BY A SPIKE DURING A
VOLLEYBALL MATCH.
SHE SUFFERED INJURIES INCLUDING
A CONCUSSION, AND STARTED
SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE
POLICIES THAT ALLOWED THE TRANS
PLAYER WHO SPIKED THE BALL TO
PLAY.
THE VIDEO OF HER GETTING HIT
OFTEN MAKES THE ROUNDS IN THESE
DEBATES, AND SHE TOLD HER STORY
TO THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE
LEGISLATURE BEFORE THEY
IMPLEMENTED THEIR BAN.
SHE ALSO ATTENDED TRUMP'S
ADDRESS TO CONGRESS, AND
APPEARED IN A VIDEO ABOUT THE
INCIDENT, PRODUCED BY AN
ACTIVIST GROUP FOR WHICH SHE AND
RILEY GAINES ARE NOW
AMBASSADORS.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I WAS
SEVERELY INJURED IN A HIGH
SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL GAME BY A MALE
ON THE OPPOSING TEAM, LEAVING ME
WITH PERMANENT INJURIES THAT THE
DOCTORS DON'T KNOW IF I'LL EVER
BE ABLE TO RECOVER FROM.
BECAUSE OF MY CAREER ENDING
INJURY, UM, I WAS NO LONGER ABLE
TO PERFORM THE WAY I HAD THE IN
THE PAST.
PROGRESSIVE GENDER IDEOLOGY
BEING PUSHED SO HARSHLY IS
EXACTLY THE ROOT OF WHY THIS WAS
ALLOWED TO HAPPEN TO ME.
IF IT WASN'T PUSHED SO HARSHLY,
THIS COULD HAVE BEEN 100%
AVOIDED.
John: OKAY, I'LL SAY THIS,
UNLIKE HOLDING UP A TROPHY WITH
A 6 ON IT FOR 40 SECONDS, A
CONCUSSION IS GENUINELY
TRAUMATIC.
THOUGH, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, SHE
DID GO ON TO PLAY SOFTBALL IN
THE SPRING, AND DID PRETTY WELL,
JUDGING BY HER SCHOOL POSTING
THIS IMAGE ABOUT HER MAKING THE
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM, AND HER
LOCAL PAPER POINTING OUT SHE
HELPED HER TEAM TO A 5-0 START.
AND I'M NOT SAYING SHE WASN'T
INJURED, OR THAT IT DIDN'T HAVE
SOME IMPACT ON HER PERFORMANCE.
BUT A LOT OF THE GROUPS HEAVILY
PUSHING THIS STORY SEEM TO BE
OVERSELLING IT, INCLUDING
CHOOSING TO TITLE THAT VIDEO,
"KILL SHOT: HOW PAYTON MCNABB
TURNED TRAGEDY INTO TRIUMPH."
BECAUSE "KILL SHOT" IS NOT A
GOOD TITLE FOR A TEENAGE GIRL
WHO IS VERY MUCH ALIVE AND
TALKING TO CAMERA.
"KILL SHOT" IS EITHER A MOVIE
WHERE KEANU REEVES AND
ANA DE ARMAS, OPPOSING SPIES AND
DEVASTATING MARKSMEN, FALL IN
LOVE, OR A HUNTING REALITY SHOW
THAT GETS CANCELED AFTER ITS
HOST, DONALD TRUMP JR., IS
MAULED BY A MOOSE IN HEAT.
AND THAT'S NOT THE ONLY
VOLLEYBALL-RELATED STORY THAT'S
BEEN OVERSOLD.
LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A
CONTROVERSY OVER A TRANS PLAYER
FOR SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY.
OTHER TEAMS FORFEITED GAMES
RATHER THAN COMPETE WITH HER,
AND ONE OF HER OWN TEAMMATES
JOINED A LAWSUIT TO STOP HER
FROM PLAYING.
BUT WATCH AS THIS STORY MENTIONS
SOMETHING AT THE END THAT PUTS A
BIT OF AN ASTERISK ON THAT
TEAMMATE'S ARGUMENT.
WHEN ASKED ABOUT HOW AND WHY
SHE FELT UNSAFE, SLUSSER SAID--
THE HEIGHT THAT THE PERSON
CAN JUMP IS SO MUCH HIGHER AND
HONESTLY HIGHER FOR A MAN.
IT'S INSANE.
AND THEN THE STRENGTH BEHIND THE
BALL WHEN THEY'RE SWINGING IS
ALSO JUST SO MUCH MORE POWERFUL.
BUT HER TRANSGENDER TEAMMATES
STATS DON'T APPEAR TO GIVE THE
SPARTANS A DRAMATIC UPPER HAND.
THE SAN JOSE STATE WOMEN'S
VOLLEYBALL TEAM IS RANKED 119TH
NATIONALLY.
John: WOW.
YOU MUST BE IN A VERY
COMPETITIVE LEAGUE, SINCE IT
SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE GOT ONE OF
THE AVENGERS ON YOUR TEAM, AND
SOMEHOW, YOU'RE ONLY RANKED
119TH.
THAT LAWSUIT INITIALLY CLAIMED
THE PLAYER'S SPIKES WERE
ESTIMATED TO BE TRAVELING UPWARD
OF 80 MILES PER HOUR-- A SPEED,
BY THE WAY, THAT WOULD MAKE HER
AS POWERFUL AS SOME OF THE
HARDEST-HITTING MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
PLAYERS IN HISTORY.
BUT WHEN ESPN USED CAMERA
CALIBRATION SOFTWARE TO ANALYZE
VIDEO OF FIVE OF HER SPIKES--
INCLUDING ONES THAT WENT VIRAL
FOR BEING "DANGEROUS"-- THEY
AVERAGED AROUND 50 MILES AN
HOUR.
WHICH IS FAST!
BUT IT'S ALSO A FULL SPEED LIMIT
IN THE SUBURBS SLOWER THAN WHAT
THE LAWSUIT INITIALLY CLAIMED.
AND LOOK, THEY'VE SINCE AMENDED
THAT LAWSUIT, DELETING THE "80
MILES PER HOUR" LINE, TELLING US
IT WAS A MISTAKE, AND THAT THEY
MEANT TO SAY 60 INSTEAD.
THOUGH, NOTABLY, THEY ONLY DID
THAT AFTER ESPN PUBLISHED ITS
REPORT.
THE POINT IS, HER SPIKES WERE
NOWHERE NEAR RECORD-SETTING,
WHICH MAY BE WHY SHE DIDN'T RANK
IN THE TOP 150 IN HITTING
PERCENTAGE IN THE NCAA.
AND LOOK, SOME TRANS KIDS ARE
GOING TO INJURE THEIR OPPONENTS,
THE SAME WAY ANY KID WILL.
AND CONCUSSIONS ARE HORRIBLE,
THOUGH THEY'RE ALSO NOT THAT
UNCOMMON IN YOUTH SPORTS, GIVEN
BETWEEN 1 TO 2 MILLION OF THEM
HAPPEN EVERY YEAR.
EVEN IN THE WAKE OF PAYTON
MCNABB'S INJURY, TWO COACHES
WHOSE TEAM HAD PLAYED AGAINST
THE TRANS PLAYER FOR THE
PREVIOUS FOUR YEARS, SPOKE UP AT
A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TO SAY
THEY WAS HAPPY TO KEEP DOING SO.
ONE APPARENTLY TOLD THE MEETING,
"EVERY TIME A STUDENT PLAYS,
THERE'S AN INHERENT RISK OF
INJURY," AND THAT SHE'D SEEN CIS
GIRLS HIT THE BALL HARDER THAN
THE ONE IN THE VIDEO.
AND THE OTHER COACH ASKED, IF
THEY'RE SLATED TO PLAY A TEAM
WITH A PLAYER WHO IS "100%
GIRL," AND SHE HITS THE BALL
HARDER THAN THE PLAYER IN
QUESTION, SHOULD THAT GAME BE
FORFEITED?
AND THAT'S THE THING-- THE
STANDARD CAN'T BE "NO TRANS KID
EVER INJURES SOMEONE" BECAUSE
THAT'S AN IMPOSSIBLE STANDARD.
AND YES, IF TRANS KIDS WERE
INJURING CIS KIDS AT MUCH HIGHER
RATES, THEN WE COULD HAVE SAFETY
CONCERNS TO ADDRESS, BUT THERE'S
NO EVIDENCE THAT'S THE CASE.
AND AT THIS POINT, IT'S WORTH
ASKING WHAT'S REALLY BEHIND ALL
THIS VITRIOL?
BECAUSE, AGAIN, I DO BELIEVE
THAT SOME SPEAKING AGAINST TRANS
PARTICIPATION ARE JUST TALKING
ABOUT WOMEN'S SPORTS-- AND THE
TRUTH IS, AT THE ELITE LEVELS OF
COMPETITION, THIS ISN'T A CUT
AND DRY ISSUE!
BUT IN MANY OTHER CASES, THE
OPPOSITION COMES FROM A MUCH
MORE TOXIC PLACE.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT DENYING
TRANS WOMEN THE RIGHT TO PLAY,
IT'S ABOUT DENYING THEM THE
RIGHT TO EXIST.
MIKE JOHNSON BASICALLY SAID AS
MUCH AFTER THE HOUSE PASSED ITS
BAN ON TRANS ATHLETES, WHEN HE
SAID THIS.
WE KNOW FROM SCRIPTURE, AND
FROM NATURE, THAT MEN ARE MEN
AND WOMEN ARE WOMEN, AND MEN
CANNOT BECOME WOMEN.
John: THAT'S RIGHT, MIKE.
AS SCRIPTURE TELLS US: MEN ARE
MEN AND WOMEN ARE WOMEN AND GOD
IS HIS OWN SON AND SOME MOTHERS
ARE VIRGINS AND SOME MOTHERS IN
LAW ARE PILLARS OF SALT AND SOME
DAUGHTERS ARE SEX PARTNERS AND
COLORFUL COATS ARE DREAM TELLERS
AND BROTHERS ARE MURDERERS BUT
ALSO BROTHERS ARE BACKUP
HUSBANDS FOR WIVES AND BABIES
CAN BE FOR SPLITTING IN HALF.
AND WATER IS WINE.
AND ALSO WITH YOU-- SORRY.
AND WITH YOUR SPIRIT.
NOW, THE ANTI-INCLUSION CAMP
OBJECTS TO BEING CALLED HATEFUL,
BIGOTED, OR INTOLERANT, USUALLY
RIGHT BEFORE OR AFTER SAYING
SOMETHING MOST WOULD CONSIDER
QUALIFIES.
HERE'S RILEY GAINES DOING JUST
THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO BE CONSIDERED
A BIGOT OR A TRANSPHOBE, OR ALL
OF THOSE LABELS.
THERE IS NO HATE IN MY HEART,
BUT ME, MYSELF, PERSONALLY, I
DON'T ACTUALLY THINK THIS PERSON
IS A WOMAN.
I DON'T ACTUALLY THINK THIS
PERSON IS A FEMALE.
THEREFORE, WHEN I SAY "SHE," I
FEEL LIKE I'M GOING AGAINST MY
MORAL COMPASS.
John: YEAH, BUT IT TURNS OUT,
THERE IS A LOT OF DISTANCE
BETWEEN "I DON'T WANT TO BE
CONSIDERED A TRANSPHOBE" AND "I
DON'T WANT TO BE A TRANSPHOBE."
EVEN GREATER THAN THE DISTANCE
BETWEEN YOU AND FIRST PLACE IN
THAT RACE YOU MAKE SUCH A BIG
DEAL ABOUT.
THE THING IS, THIS CURRENT
UPROAR IS ROOTED IN A VERY
INTENTIONAL POLITICAL STRATEGY
BY THE RIGHT, TO FIND A NEW
ISSUE AFTER LOSING THE WAR OVER
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.
CONSERVATIVES' EMBRACE OF THIS
ISSUE CAME AFTER THE FAILURE OF
SO CALLED "BATHROOM BILLS"
AROUND THE COUNTRY, WHICH WERE
WIDELY CRITICIZED.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN
PRINCIPLES PROJECT, A SOCIALLY
CONSERVATIVE ADVOCACY GROUP, HAS
OPENLY SAID, "WE PIVOTED TO THE
"SPORTS ISSUE," AND IT'S BEEN
"WILDLY SUCCESSFUL."
HE'S EVEN EXPLAINED THE REASON
FOR THAT, ARGUING, WHAT IT DID
WAS, IT GOT OPPONENTS OF THE
LGBT MOVEMENT COMFORTABLE WITH
TALKING ABOUT TRANSGENDER
ISSUES.
AND HE'S KIND OF RIGHT.
BECAUSE IT DOES SEEM LIKE RIGHT
NOW, YOU CAN BASICALLY SAY
ANYTHING YOU WANT ABOUT TRANS
PEOPLE, AS LONG AS YOU TAG ON
"IN SPORTS" AFTER IT.
"I DON'T THINK TRANS WOMEN
SHOULD BE ALLOWED...
IN SPORTS."
"I DON'T THINK TRANS WOMEN ARE
WOMEN...
IN SPORTS."
BUT IT'S NOTICEABLE JUST HOW
FAST THE "IN SPORTS" PART CAN
DROP OFF, ONCE PEOPLE FEEL
PERMISSION HAS BEEN GRANTED, TO
THE POINT THAT SOME LEADING
VOICES IN THIS MOVEMENT ARE NOW
CIRCLING BACK TO BATHROOM BANS
-- AN ISSUE THAT, A DECADE AGO,
PEOPLE FELT WAS A BRIDGE TOO
FAR.
LAST YEAR, FOR INSTANCE, PAYTON
MCNABB TWEETED A VIDEO OF HER
CONFRONTING A TRANS WOMAN, WITH
THE CAPTION, "A MAN USING THE
GIRLS BATHROOM AT WESTERN
CAROLINA UNIVERSITY.
UNREAL."
WHICH IS REALLY NASTY.
FOR THE RECORD, AMBUSHING
STRANGERS JUST MINDING THEIR OWN
BUSINESS IS NOT WHAT GIRLS
BATHROOMS ARE FOR!
GIRLS BATHROOMS ARE FOR GASSING
EACH OTHER UP, MAKING BEST
FRIENDS IN 30 SECONDS,
COMPLIMENTING TOPS, TUCKING IN
TAGS, AND ZIPPING UP DRESSES
WHILE ONE GIRL SAYS "OMG THAT
LIPSTICK LOOKS SO GOOD ON YOU"
AND THE OTHER SAYS "30% OFF AT
SEPHORA RIGHT NOW" AND THE FIRST
GIRL SAYS "LIKE NOW NOW?"
AND SHE RESPONDS "YES!
I WENT YESTERDAY!"
AND SHE SAYS "UGH, YOU'RE MY
HERO, I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A
NUDE THAT GOES WITH MY BLOTCHY
SKIN TONE" AND THE OTHER SAYS
"GIRL, STOP IT, I WOULD KILL FOR
THOSE FRECKLES!
YOU KNOW PEOPLE ARE BUYING THEM
NOW!"
AND THE FIRST ONE'S LIKE "YOU'RE
RIGHT.
WE GOTTA BE LOVING OURSELVES"
AND THE OTHER ONE IS LIKE "WE
ABSOLUTELY DO!"
THAT'S WHAT GIRLS BATHROOMS ARE
FOR, I'M TOLD.
I HAVE NO IDEA.
PUT YOUR FUCKING PHONE AWAY AND
BUILD SOME COMMUNITY, PAYTON.
AND THE REASON THIS HAS BEEN AN
EASIER SELL FOR THE RIGHT IS
THAT IT'S POSSIBLE TO FRAME ALL
THIS AS BEING ABOUT "PROTECTING
WOMEN AND GIRLS."
ALTHOUGH IF THAT'S TRULY THE
AIM, THERE'S REASON FOR THEM TO
FEEL A LOT LESS SAFE THANKS TO
THESE BILLS, AS IN PRACTICE,
THEY CAN ENCOURAGE ADULTS TO
POLICE THE BODIES OF LITERAL
CHILDREN.
THAT'S HAPPENED.
IN FLORIDA, A TRANS KID WAS
KICKED OFF A TEAM AFTER AN
INVESTIGATION WHICH RESULTED IN
A REPORT ABOUT HER THAT WAS MORE
THAN 500 PAGES LONG, AND
INCLUDED INVESTIGATORS ASKING
THREE GIRLS ON HER VOLLEYBALL
TEAM IF THEY'D EVER SEEN HER
UNDRESSED.
AND IN UTAH, THE PARENTS OF A
GIRL WHO WAS NOT TRANS WERE
HORRIFIED WHEN A LOCAL MEMBER OF
THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
FELT EMPOWERED TO DO THIS.
THE COUPLE DESCRIBES THEIR
DAUGHTER, WHOSE IMAGE KSL IS
BLURRING, AS A TOMBOY.
SHE CUT HER HAIR SHORT
BECAUSE THAT'S HOW SHE FEELS
COMFORTABLE.
SHE WEARS CLOTHES THAT ARE A
LITTLE BAGGY.
SHE GOES TO THE GYM ALL THE
TIME, SO SHE'S GOT MUSCLES.
THEY SAID THE FAMILY IS
RALLYING AROUND THEIR DAUGHTER.
AND HAVE A MESSAGE TO OTHER
FAMILIES EXPERIENCING BULLYING.
I WANT ALL THE KIDS TO KNOW
THAT IT'S OKAY TO JUST BE WHO
THEY ARE.
John: THAT'S AWFUL.
AND I HOPE IT GOES WITHOUT
SAYING, BUT RANDOM ADULTS SHOULD
NOT BE PUBLICLY INTERROGATING
THE GENDER OF CHILDREN ON
FACEBOOK.
PEOPLE REALLY SHOULDN'T BE ON
FACEBOOK AT ALL UNLESS THEY'RE
A, LOCKED IN A BIDDING WAR FOR A
BARELY USED SET OF END TABLES OR
B, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF A
FAMILY FRIEND DIED OR IF THEY'RE
JUST INTERMITTENTLY POSTING
ABOUT PRAYING.
THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO
ACCEPTABLE USES OF FACEBOOK
LEFT.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, THE BULK OF THE
DAMAGE HERE IS BEING DONE TO
TRANS KIDS.
BECAUSE ONE THING WE KNOW FOR
SURE IS THAT, FOR ALL KIDS THE
BENEFITS-- PHYSIOLOGICAL,
SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL-- OF
PARTICIPATING IN SCHOOL SPORTS
TEAMS AND ATHLETICS ARE
WIDE-RANGING.
AND TO HEAR TRANS KIDS
THEMSELVES TELL IT,
PARTICIPATION CAN BE ESPECIALLY
IMPORTANT TO THEIR FEELING OF
COMMUNITY AND SENSE OF SELF.
I LOVE TRACK BECAUSE I FEEL
LIKE I'M A PART OF A SECOND
FAMILY.
IT'S LIKE ANOTHER BOND THAT YOU
EXPERIENCE.
THIS HAS HELPED ME SO MUCH
BEING ABLE TO BE PART OF A SPORT
AND PART OF A TEAM IS SUCH AN
INCREDIBLE, AMAZING EXPERIENCE
FOR ME.
WITHOUT FOOTBALL, I DON'T
QUITE KNOW IF I WOULD STILL BE
HERE, BECAUSE IT-- IT'S GIVEN
ME A SENSE OF BELONGING.
IT'S TAKEN-- IT'S AWAY THE
SPOTLIGHT ON THE FACT THAT I AM
TRANSGENDER AND IT'S JUST
ALLOWED ME TO BE A BOY, AND IT'S
ALLOWED ME TO BE A KID.
John: THAT'S A REALLY MOVING
THING TO HEAR.
AND IF YOU'RE EXPERIENCING A
WEIRD SENSATION AFTER THAT CLIP
YOU CAN'T QUITE PLACE, IT'S
BECAUSE IT WAS NICE.
IT WAS HAPPY KIDS TALKING ABOUT
HOW THEY'RE ABLE TO BE
THEMSELVES, AND YOU DON'T
USUALLY GET NICE THINGS ON THIS
SHOW, WHICH IS HONESTLY MAINLY
"DENSE STATISTICS, SAD FACTS,
AND OCCASIONAL PIKACHU PORN."
BEING TRANS CAN MEAN SEEING YOUR
BODY AS A BARRIER TO LIVING LIFE
AS YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF--
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG,
AND ESPECIALLY IN SOCIAL
SITUATIONS.
AND IT'S NOT EVEN NECESSARILY
ABOUT BEING GOOD AT SPORTS.
BECAUSE FOR ALL THE FOCUS ON A
HANDFUL OF HIGH-PERFORMING
ATHLETES, IT'S HELPFUL TO
REMEMBER: LOTS OF TRANS KIDS,
LIKE ANY KIDS, ARE FUCKING
TERRIBLE AT SPORTS.
THAT TEENAGER YOU JUST SAW,
EMBER, WAS A BACKUP CATCHER,
WHO'S SAID, "I'M MEDIOCRE AT
BEST."
AND HER MOM GOES EVEN FURTHER.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
EMBER'S ATHLETIC PROWESS?
THERE REALLY ISN'T MUCH.
HOW ABOUT ANY HOME RUNS?
NO, SHE'S NEVER HAD A HOME
RUN IN HER LIFE.
John: WOW.
THAT'S A SUPPORTIVE MOM MAKING
IT VERY CLEAR THAT SHE WILL
"PROTECT TRANS KIDS," BUT ONLY
TO A POINT.
AND I LOVE THE HONESTY THERE.
ATHLETIC PROWESS?
THAT WOULD BE A NEGATIVE.
HOME RUNS?
HARD NO.
"I'M GOING TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION WITH A DIRECT, ACCURATE
HIT, SOMETHING MY DAUGHTER COULD
FRANKLY ONLY DREAM OF."
SO, YEAH-- EMBER'S NOT GREAT AT
SOFTBALL.
BUT SHE WANTED TO PLAY ANYWAY--
AND MET ALL OF HER STATE'S
REQUIREMENTS TO DO SO, INCLUDING
UNDERGOING AT LEAST A YEAR OF
HORMONE THERAPY.
BUT AS SOON AS SHE WAS APPROVED,
THE STATE STARTED MOVING TO
IMPLEMENT A BAN-- AND WHEN SHE
TESTIFIED AGAINST IT, SHE
DROPPED IN A LITTLE EXTRA PIECE
OF INFO.
OTHERS HAVE SAID THAT I
SHOULD JUST PLAY BASEBALL WITH
THE BOYS.
IN MANY WAYS, THIS WOULD BE
EASIER.
I WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH
THE TIME-CONSUMING AND
EMBARRASSING PROCESS OF
SUBMITTING INTIMATE MEDICAL
DETAILS TO THE STATE.
ALSO, THE BOYS AT MY SCHOOL HAVE
TWO BEAUTIFUL FIELDS TO PLAY ON.
MOST YEARS, OUR SOFTBALL TEAM
HAS TO CANCEL HALF OF OUR GAMES
BECAUSE OUR OLD FIELD HAS NO
DRAINAGE.
BUT THE FACT IS THAT FOR ME,
PLAYING ON A BOYS' TEAM WOULD BE
A LIE.
John: YEAH, THAT MAKES SENSE.
AND IT SAYS SOMETHING THAT
PEOPLE SEEM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT
A TRANS GIRL ON THE FIELD THAN
THEY DO ABOUT THE FIELD ITSELF
TURNING INTO A SWIMMING POOL
HALF THE TIME.
AND I REALIZE I'M TAKING A RISK
BY SAYING THE WORDS "SWIMMING
POOL" OUT LOUD, BECAUSE IF YOU
SAY THAT PHRASE THREE TIMES,
RILEY GAINES SHOWS UP, TIES FOR
FIFTH, AND THEN DEADNAMES
EVERYONE IN A 50 MILE RADIUS.
UNFORTUNATELY THOUGH, OHIO
BANNED TRANS ATHLETES ANYWAY.
AND THAT INSISTENCE ON
AGGRESSIVELY LEGISLATING AROUND
A HANDFUL OF TRANS KIDS, WHILE
NEGLECTING MUCH BIGGER, SYSTEMIC
ISSUES AROUND YOUTH SPORTS,
ISN'T A ONE-OFF.
TAKE KENTUCKY.
THREE YEARS AGO, THEY PASSED ONE
OF THESE BANS, EVEN THOUGH AT
THE TIME, THERE WAS THE
ONE TRANS ATHLETE.
THE GOVERNOR, TO HIS CREDIT,
VETOED IT.
BUT THE LEGISLATORS WOULDN'T LET
IT REST, BECAUSE ON THE
SECOND-TO-LAST DAY OF THE
SESSION, THEY VOTED TO OVERRIDE
HIS VETO, WITH ONE MEMBER DOING
SO WITH REAL REGIONAL-THEATER
ENERGY.
VETO TO SENATE BILL 83.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM McCRACKEN?
MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE FOR FINAL
PASSAGE OF SENATE BILL 83, THE
VETO OF THE GOVERNOR
NOTWITHSTANDING.
John: YEAH, THEY FELT SO
STRONGLY ABOUT "PROTECTING YOUNG
FEMALE ATHLETES,"
DARKEST-TIMELINE DREW CAREY HERE
WAS WILLING TO STEP IN.
BUT THE URGENCY ON DISPLAY THERE
NOTABLY DIDN'T SEEM TO APPLY TO
OTHER ISSUES CONCERNING YOUTH
ATHLETE SAFETY.
BECAUSE LAST YEAR, AN
INVESTIGATION REVEALED A
LONGSTANDING PATTERN OF SEXUAL
ABUSE IN YOUTH SPORTS IN
KENTUCKY.
IT POINTED OUT A BILL THAT
MIGHT'VE HELPED PREVENT THAT WAS
THIS ONE, WHICH WOULD'VE MADE IT
HARDER FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL--
INCLUDING COACHES-- WHO'D BEEN
ACCUSED OF MISCONDUCT TO MOVE
FROM DISTRICT TO DISTRICT.
IT'S BEEN CALLED "THE MOST
COMPREHENSIVE BILL" TO ADDRESS
THE ISSUE.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT STALLED OUT IN
THE LEGISLATURE, FOR AN
INFURIATING REASON.
BECAUSE IT MADE IT THROUGH BOTH
CHAMBERS, AND ONLY NEEDED A
PROCEDURAL VOTE TO BE SENT TO
THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN.
BUT IT JUST SAT THERE.
AND ON THE LAST DAY OF THE
SESSION, IT STILL HADN'T PASSED,
AND THEN, THIS HAPPENED.
THE MEMBERS ARE HUNGRY, AND
WE QUITE POSSIBLY HAVE
CONSIDERED THE LAST BILL OF THE
SESSION.
HOWEVER, I AM NOT A 100% THAT
THAT IS THE CASE.
SO OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF
CAUTION, WE'RE GOING TO RECESS
UNTIL THE CALL OF THE CHAIR.
John: YEP!
THEY FUCKED OFF TO DINNER, AND
GUESS WHAT?
THEY NEVER CAME BACK TO VOTE.
SO IT SEEMS THIS IS HOW THE
KENTUCKY STATE HOUSE WORKS: WHEN
THERE'S ONE KID WHO WANTS TO
PLAY FIELD HOCKEY, IT'S PEARL
HARBOR.
BUT WHEN THERE'S A LONGSTANDING
PATTERN OF SEXUAL ABUSE, IT'S
"SORRY, WE'VE GOT A 6:00PM
RESERVATION AT CHEESECAKE
FACTORY."
AND FOR THOSE WHO'VE PLAYED
GIRLS' SPORTS, THIS SUDDEN
INTEREST FROM LAWMAKERS IS A
LITTLE HARD TO TAKE, GIVEN, FOR
SO LONG, IT'S MEANT HAVING TO
PUT UP WITH CONSTANT SLIGHTS AND
INDIGNITIES-- FROM WORSE
PLAYING FIELDS, TO SMALLER
LOCKER ROOMS, TO CREEPY COACHES
NO ONE WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT,
TO ALWAYS HAVING TO PLAY YOUR
GAMES EARLY WHILE THE 8PM BOYS
GAME GETS TREATED LIKE THE MAIN
EVENT.
I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY
TIMES, MULTIPLE WRITERS WHO
WORKED ON THIS STORY, AND WHO
PLAYED WOMEN'S SPORTS, BROUGHT
THAT LAST POINT UP.
AND NOW WE SEEM HELL-BENT ON
ADDING TO ALL THAT THE FEAR THAT
IF GIRLS GET TOO SHORT A
HAIRCUT, OR GO TO THE GYM TOO
MUCH, A STRANGER ON FACEBOOK'S
GOING TO START "JUST ASKING
QUESTIONS."
AND LOOK, THIS IS THE PART OF
THE SHOW WHERE I USUALLY TALK
ABOUT WHAT TO DO, BUT A LOT OF
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF OUR
HANDS.
WHEN IT COMES TO STATE LEVEL
BANS, THANKFULLY, COURT ORDERS
ARE BLOCKING ENFORCEMENT OF THEM
IN ALL THESE STATES.
AND COURTS ARE ALSO GOING TO
HAVE TO WEIGH IN ON TRUMP'S
EXECUTIVE ORDER, WHICH SOME
STATES HAVE ADMIRABLY RESISTED
-- NONE MORE MEMORABLY THAN
MAINE, WHOSE GOVERNOR HAD THIS
STANDOFF WITH TRUMP.
I UNDERSTAND MAINE...
IS MAINE HERE?
THE GOVERNOR OF MAINE?
YEAH, I'M HERE.
ARE YOU NOT GOING TO COMPLY
WITH IT?
I'M COMPLYING WITH STATE AND
FEDERAL LAWS.
WELL, I AM-- WE ARE THE
FEDERAL LAW.
WELL, YOU BETTER DO IT.
YOU BETTER DO IT, BECAUSE YOU'RE
NOT GOING TO GET ANY FEDERAL
FUNDING AT ALL IF YOU DON'T.
YOU BETTER COMPLY BECAUSE
OTHERWISE, YOU'RE NOT GETTING
ANY FEDERAL FUNDING.
SEE YOU IN COURT.
John: YEAH, YOU GET HIM,
MAINE!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
YOU GET HIM!
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
I TAKE BACK EVERYTHING MEAN I
EVER SAID ABOUT YOU, LIKE THAT
YOU'RE LOBSTER-STUFFED
LIGHTHOUSE PERVERTS THAT THE
REST OF THE NORTHEAST LOVES TO
FORGET.
I STILL BROADLY THINK THAT'S
TRUE, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SAY
IT OUT LOUD ANYMORE, BECAUSE
THAT IS HONESTLY, HEARTENING.
AS IS THE FACT THAT, WHEN
REPUBLICANS TRIED TO PASS A
NATIONWIDE BAN ON TRANS
PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS, IT
FAILED IN THE SENATE, AFTER
EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT VOTED
AGAINST IT.
AND IT'S BEEN INSPIRING TO SEE
SOME OF THESE TRANS KIDS'
TEAMMATES COMING OUT HARD
AGAINST THE WAY THEIR FRIENDS
ARE BEING TREATED.
FOR INSTANCE, IN FLORIDA, WHERE
THAT TRANS GIRL WAS KICKED OFF
HER TEAM THANKS TO, AGAIN, AN
INVESTIGATION THAT WAS MORE THAN
500 PAGES LONG, KIDS IN HER
SCHOOL STAGED A WALKOUT IN
PROTEST-- AND ONE OF HER
TEAMMATES WENT ON THE LOCAL NEWS
AND DIDN'T HOLD BACK.
THEIR MAIN ARGUMENT IS ABOUT
FAIRNESS AND, LIKE, SPORTS AND
HOW SHE PROBABLY COULD HAVE,
LIKE, HELPED US WIN IN WAYS THAT
ARE, LIKE, ABOUT FAIRNESS AND
EQUALNESS IN SPORTS-- BUT LIKE,
HOW ABOUT, LIKE, FAIRNESS AMONG,
LIKE, HUMANS?
JUST US AS HUMANS?
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW SHE'S NOT
BEING TREATED LIKE A HUMAN.
IF SHE WERE HERE AND YOU
COULD SAY SOMETHING TO HER, WHAT
WOULD YOU SAY?
HOW MUCH I LOVE HER AND I--
I'M ALWAYS THERE FOR HER,
GENUINELY, AS A HUMAN, LIKE,
THAT I DO, LIKE, I LOVE HER SO
MUCH, AND SHE DESERVES TO BE
TREATED JUST LIKE EVERYBODY
ELSE.
John: YEAH.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
SHE'S RIGHT.
SHE'S COMPLETELY RIGHT.
SHE JUST ENCAPSULATED THE
ARGUMENT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO
MAKE FOR OVER HALF AN HOUR, BUT
WITH A VIBE BOTH MORE EMOTIONAL
AND ALSO SUBSTANTIALLY MORE
CHILL.
SO FIRST, THANK YOU FOR THAT,
JORDAN.
AND SECOND, SORRY TO EVERYONE
ELSE, BECAUSE NOW WE'RE GOING
BACK TO MY ENERGY WHICH WE ALL
KNOW IS SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE.
AND LOOK, FOR THE FINAL TIME, I
WILL CONCEDE, THERE ARE DEGREES
TO WHICH THIS ISSUE IS
MEANINGFULLY COMPLICATED.
BUT I'D ALSO ARGUE THOSE
COMPLICATIONS ARE AT THE ELITE
LEVELS OF SPECIFIC SPORTS.
AND WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT WHAT "ELITE" MEANS, AND
WHERE EXACTLY TO DRAW THAT LINE.
WE CAN ENGAGE IN GOOD-FAITH
DEBATE ABOUT POLICIES THAT
ACTUALLY BALANCE COMPETITION AND
INCLUSION.
BUT IT'S IRONIC THAT, AT THE
HIGHEST LEVELS, SOME SPORTING
ASSOCIATIONS ARE STILL BEING
THOUGHTFUL AND DELIBERATE ABOUT
THIS, EVEN AS WE'RE PASSING
BLANKET BANS FOR ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS.
WHICH IS BRUTAL.
BECAUSE YOU'VE SEEN HOW MUCH
SPORTS MEANS TO THE KIDS WHO
PLAY THEM.
TAKING THAT AWAY IS NOT A
HARMLESS ACT.
NOT FOR THESE KIDS, OR THE
MULTIPLE OTHERS YOU HAVEN'T
HEARD FROM TONIGHT-- SOME OF
WHOSE STORIES WE COULDN'T EVEN
SHOW YOU BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENT
FOR TRANS KIDS IS SO FUCKING
TOXIC RIGHT NOW THAT THEY ASKED
US NOT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THEM
FOR THEIR SAFETY.
SO IF YOU'RE SOMEONE FOR WHOM
THIS IS JUST ABOUT THE
"INTEGRITY OF COMPETITION"--
AND FOR A LOT OF THE LOUDEST
PEOPLE PUSHING THIS, I DON'T
THINK IT IS-- BUT IF THAT'S THE
CASE FOR YOU, THEN I DO
ACKNOWLEDGE, WE'RE GOING TO
DISAGREE ABOUT SOME THINGS.
BUT THE ONE THING I'D ASK, IS
THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THE UGLINESS
OF HOW THIS ISSUE GETS
DISCUSSED, AND HOW IT'S BEING
CYNICALLY USED BY SOME TO
ADVANCE THE ERADICATION OF TRANS
PEOPLE, GENERALLY-- TO GET BACK
TO WHAT THEY KNOW FROM
SCRIPTURE, THAT TRANS PEOPLE ARE
A MYTH.
YOU KNOW, THE SAME SCRIPTURE
THAT TELLS US THE DEVIL IS AN
UNEMPLOYED ANGEL AND HAIR IS FOR
FOOT WASHING OR SUPER STRENGTH
AND TWO FISH AND SOME BREAD IS A
CATERING ORDER AND BOATS ARE
EMERGENCY ZOOS.
THANKS BE TO GOD.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR: I'M NOT
HAPPY TO WATCH WOMEN EXPERIENCE
"INJURY, HUMILIATION AND A LOSS
OF SPORTING OPPORTUNITIES."
BUT THAT INCLUDES TRANS WOMEN
AND KIDS.
AND THEY SEEM TO BE GETTING HURT
THE MOST RIGHT NOW.
MEANWHILE, THERE ARE MUCH BIGGER
ISSUES REGARDING WOMEN'S SPORTS
THAT WE SHOULD ACTUALLY BE
ADDRESSING.
AND MAYBE THAT COULD BE WHAT
LAWMAKERS PRIORITIZE-- BECAUSE
FOR SO MANY WHO ARE LOUDLY
CLAIMING THEY'RE GOING TO BAT
FOR WOMEN'S SPORTS, IF I MAY
PARAPHRASE THE SINGLE MOST
HONEST MOM OF ALL TIME, SO FAR,
THEY'VE NEVER HIT A HOME RUN IN
THEIR FUCKING LIFE.
AND NOW, THIS.
♪ ♪
Announcer: AND NOW,
HE REALLY DOESN'T WANT YOU TO
FORGET HE WENT TO LAW SCHOOL.
HEY, LISTEN TO ME THAT YOU
HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOUR
PARENTS, THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'D
BE LIKE IF YOU WENT TO THE
CHICAGO UNIVERSITY OF LAW SCHOOL
AND WRITING FOR TMZ.
I CAME BACK HERE TO PRACTICE
LAW.
I TAUGHT LAW SCHOOL.
I'VE TAUGHT INTO LAW LAW
SCHOOLS.
I'VE TAUGHT IN THE UNIVERSITY OF
MIAMI'S LAW SCHOOL FOR A YEAR.
I'M IN TOUCH WITH SOME OF MY
LAW SCHOOL COLLEAGUES FROM A
LONG TIME AGO.
I'M DOING SOMETHING WAY
DIFFERENT THAN MOST OF WHAT THEY
ARE DOING.
BY THE WAY, I WENT TO
LAW SCHOOL.
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI.
LAW SCHOOL THERE IS
APPARENTLY A TAX LIMIT I DO NOT
FULLY UNDERSTAND.
THAT WAS MY WORST GRADE IN
LAW SCHOOL.
SHE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH MY
LAW SCHOOL ROOMMATE.
FUN FACT.
I WENT TO CHICAGO LAW SCHOOL AND
IT MEANS A LOT TO ME.
TWO OF THE MOST NEGATIVE
LEGACIES THAT CHICAGO'S
RESPONSIBLE FOR IS AL CAPONE AND
HARVEY'S LAW LICENSE.
John: THAT'S OUR SHOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WALKING!
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!
A GOOD NIGHT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
♪