For a few months I haven't had the capacity to write. I skipped writing my usual letters in favor of journaling and looking inward. Sport has done for me all the things that it has done for most and then some. In addition to competing, training, and learning with the best athletes and coaches, I've been able to travel, make friends, network, grow, and heal. Today, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order banning transwomen from competing in women's sports.
This EO will cover youth, high school, and collegiate sports. This EO challenges Title IX protections Biden expanded during his administration. Did you know that girls that play sports gain self confidence, learn leadership, teamwork, and are more likely to finish high school? Why would you take away something that is transformative and positive from young people?
Oh that's right, you have some strange fixation on a child's gender identity? This child's existence doesn't impact your child's opportunities or well being, but you're worried that it is an unfair advantage. Do not tell me that you want to protect children if you are unwilling to let all children be who they want to be. If you want to protect children look at our history gun violence:
-Children from Sandy Hook should be graduating with fond memories of their classmates. Instead, they are remembering those that fell in 2012 when their safe space was violated by person with many guns.
-How many city youth die in gang and gun related violence? You don't know because you don't care to know. You are safe in your house on the other side of town.
Perhaps we can protect our children better by removing sexual predators from our neighborhoods or ensure they have clean drinking water or a safe place to go before and after school to do homework, have a snack, and connect with other youth. It's preposterous to think that a handful of children trying to cope with their identity has such a profound effect on our youth that it necessitates an executive order. On National Women and Girls in Sport Day of all days. It's despicable and will ultimately create more resistance to this intentional action to implement Project 2025.
Sport is a political act. To pretend that it isn't is folly. Will we use children to demonstrate this, I hope not. They are innocent and can't control grown adults from making idiotic decisions that affect them. Olympic history shows us that competing for the oppressor does not afford to us any privilege except to strengthen the oppressor. In addition to boycotts, and displays of protest, athletes have defected and refused to acknowledge their oppressor in competition.
Guess who is hosting in 2028? Los Angeles. Will Team USA compete, probably yay capitalism. Will the world turn their back on us and refuse to compete and acknowledge us, maybe, it's too soon to tell. There's plenty of time left in this administration to throw more wrenches at our lives, but do not be surprised if we get snubbed at the Olympics in 2028 or in other competitions. We were always the oppressor.
I have other thoughts on the Olympics, but that's a post for another day.
Sources
https://bbc.com/news/articles/c20g85k3z35o
https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/get-involved/ngwsd/
