Simone Biles & Riley Gaines “X” War Over Minnesota Trans Athlete
Does ANYONE really know the "right" answer for this one? It seems like a debate that has been going on for quite a few years. There are so many variables to this situation, and when there are two well known athletes, one of which is an elite athlete and they weigh in on this subject, who is right?
OPINIONS
I know everyone has an opinion about this. And I'm sure that many of them stem from knowing, or being a trans athlete, and wanting the ability to compete in their sport of choice. Or, the opposite, you are either an athlete or the parents or family of an athlete who is possibly not going to achieve the accolatdes that you otherwise could have if not for a trans athlete.
WHAT HAPPENED
This situation came up when a softball team from Champlin, Minnesota won the state championship on Friday with a pitcher who happens to be transgender.
The Minnesota State High School League posted a photo of the team on social media after the game
When Riley Gaines, a competitive swimmer, saw the post, and the comments had been turned off, she shared the picture with the caption "to be expected when your star player is a boy".
X (Formerly Twitter) WAR BEGINS
Simone Biles saw the post and had some comments of her own to add in.
Biles, a seven-time Olympic gold medalist, saw the post and told Gaines she was "truly sick."
Biles went on to say that we should all be finding ways to uplift the trans community and make sports inclusive OR find a way that transgender people would have their own sports league to compete in. But not to punch them down and/or bully them.
The back and forth on "X" got more personal with some verbal attacks. You can check out the entire exchange here
MORE OPINIONS
Note: About 80% of people who were asked say that biological males should stay out of womens and girls sports.
CHECK IT OUT: 100 sports records and the stories behind them
KEEP READING: Here are 50 of the most famous sports goofs