According to the Maine Principals’ Association, there are two transgender athletes competing in high school sports in Maine. The headline of one recent article was “NCAA president says there are ‘less than 10’ transgender athletes in college sports.” A letter last week asked us to “imagine” a conversation between parents and their “athletically talented, elementary-aged girl,” a conversation that would, per the writer, lead to “she will likely never win any statewide competitions” and face a future in sports dominated by transgender athletes.

It made me wonder: are there parents of un-athletic boys in elementary school worried about the converse? “Johnny, Mom and I were talking and we don’t ever see you winning any statewide competitions against more athletic boys. So, we think for your athletic well-being, maybe it’s time for ‘Johnny’ to become ‘Joanie.'” That is not happening.

Athletic organizations around the world are changing the rules for transgender participation, not to ban any transgender athlete, but to only allow athletes — yes, they are athletes — who started the transition before the age of 12 or have experienced no puberty.

I have always believed that if the world is to be saved, women will do it. Our world has always been patriarchal, and male-dominated forever. The man pushing this issue has bragged about “grabbing women…” and “barging” into the dressing room of teenage pageant contestants to see the girls naked. Would any parent want a “Coach Trump” or a “Team Doctor Nasser” for their daughter?

There are much bigger fish to fry than a problem destined to disappear.

Herb Fox
Limerick