Inconvenient Truths: Debunking the Myths in 'The ABC of My Trans Adventure, Part Three

Here is a link to part one, two, three, and four.

From our step-sister’s publication1 , we get this glorious gem.

In response to the recent article 'The ABC of My Trans Adventure, Part Three, we at PITTpeople.com feel compelled to address the numerous inaccuracies, logical fallacies, and harmful stereotypes presented. This is not an exhaustive and complete list, as that would mean quoting the entire article. It is all that bad. As an growing group dedicated to promoting truth and understanding, we believe it is crucial to engage in respectful dialogue and counter misinformation with facts and evidence. In this article, we will examine the claims made and provide a more balanced, evidence-based perspective on the complex issues surrounding transgender individuals and their participation in sports.

1. Hasty generalization:
   Argument from the article: "Trans 'women', aka males competing against real women, don't give a damn about female competitors."
   
   This statement assumes that all transgender athletes have the same motivations and disregard for their competitors, which is an unfounded generalization. As far as I can tell from the transgender athletes statements and reporting, they have all expressed their desire to compete fairly and their respect for their fellow competitors.

2. Ad hominem attacks:

   Argument from the article: "Somehow, society seems OK with the fact that the sacrosanct 'inclusion' of those trans 'women' has relegated women to a societal underclass of unimportant and unaffirmed individuals who are not allowed to feel hurt or harassed, complain about being erased and are expected to remain silent and submissively compliant when those feelings of subjection become their daily reality."
   
   This statement uses inflammatory language to paint a picture of transgender inclusion as an attack on cisgender women. It fails to acknowledge the importance of creating an inclusive environment for all individuals, regardless of their gender identity. The use of ad hominem attacks and emotionally charged language undermines the credibility of the argument and detracts from a productive dialogue.
   
   If the reader look beyond polarized rhetoric and applies some quick internet searching for facts and figures, you will find that society still has an issue with trans folks in society, in as much as discrimination, abuse, assault, are concerned. To say nothing of the large amount of recent legislation introduced, and the attack on, and attempt to deny trans health care to trans folks that need it. Yes, it has gotten better than it was 20 years ago, there is no denying that; however, it still has a long way to go. We live in a world where the only “sacrosanct ‘inclusion’” is still cis/hetero-normative white folk. If you fall outside of that, no inclusion is sacrosanct.

3. False equivalence:

   Argument from the article: "Sexual deviants with pedophilic tendencies and weird fetishes have always been around. What's different today is that grown men are allowed to live their sexual fantasies in the daylight."
   
   This statement falsely equates being transgender with sexual deviance and pedophilia, which is as inaccurate as it is offensive, and designed to induce pearl clutching outrage. Gender identity is distinct from sexual orientation and does not imply any form of sexual misconduct. The American Psychological Association states that "being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation. Therefore, transgender people may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc."2 Furthermore, there exists a growing body of evidence that transgender folks, like their LGB allies, have a biological origin or component, that as we have come to accept about gay and bi folks, trans folks are born the way they are.

4. Anecdotal evidence:

   Argument from the article: "A trans MMA fighter, Fallon Fox, said in an interview in 2020: 'For the record, I knocked two out (women). One woman's skull was fractured, the other not. And just so you know: I enjoyed it. See, I love smacking up TEFS in the cage who talk transphobic nonsense. It's bliss'."
   
   The fact is that this statement is being misrepresented, as it was a fractured orbital bone and is constantly being rewritten to “fractured skull”3. Furthermore, if we look at some facts, we find that according to one study“The most common eye injuries in mixed MMA contests were eyebrow and eyelid lacerations (n=160, 43%), lacerations around the eye (n=98, 27%), and orbital fractures (n=62, 17%).” 4
   
   This is why anecdotal evidence from one person alone cannot be used to draw broad conclusions about an entire group of people. It is important to look at the facts and figures as well as the policies and guidelines put in place by sports organizations to ensure fair competition and the safety of all athletes.5

5. Slippery slope fallacy:
   Argument from the article: "We'll get to a point where society will let people get away with murder and rape under the twisted reasoning that it helps them 'feel' affirmed, valued, understood and included."
   

   This statement is an extreme and unfounded extrapolation that uses a slippery slope fallacy to instill fear. There is no evidence to suggest that allowing transgender athletes to compete in sports will lead to a societal acceptance of violent crimes. This argument fails to recognize the distinct nature of these issues and the importance of addressing them separately based on facts and evidence.

6. Cherry-picking:

   Argument from the article: The article focuses on individual instances of transgender athletes outperforming cisgender athletes or causing injuries.
   

   The article selectively presents information that supports its viewpoint while ignoring evidence that may contradict its claims. For example, it does not mention the policies and guidelines developed by sports organizations to ensure fair competition, such as the International Olympic Committee's guidelines that require transgender athletes to meet specific criteria related to hormone levels and the duration of hormone therapy.6 It also fails to state the fact that the vast majority of transgender athletes are not even placing on the podium, let alone dominating women’s sports.

   Finally, it ignores these inconvenient facts published recently in the British Journal of Sports Medicine7:

   • Transgender women performed worse than cisgender women in tests measuring lower-body strength.

   • Transgender women performed worse than cisgender women in tests measuring lung function.

   • Transgender women’s bone density was found to be equivalent to that of cisgender women, which is linked to muscle strength.

   • There were no meaningful differences found between the two groups’ hemoglobin profiles. Hemoglobin (Hb) plays a crucial role in athletic performance by facilitating improved oxygen delivery to muscles. Elite endurance athletes may exhibit up to a 40% higher level of Hb compared to untrained individuals. Moreover, heightened levels of Hb typically correlate with enhanced aerobic performance.
     
     So, in reality, this research shows that transgender athletes could be at a physical disadvantage.
     

7. Appeal to emotion:

   Argument from the article: "If we don't watch out and resist the insanity, and we allow certain 'values', admirable in themselves but twisted by the woke mentality, to be elevated to a level of untouchable cultural sacredness."
   

   This statement uses emotionally charged language, such as "insanity" and "twisted by the woke mentality," to evoke outrage and fear rather than presenting a balanced, fact-based analysis of the issue. Appeals to emotion can cloud judgment and hinder productive dialogue. It is essential to approach the topic with empathy and a commitment to understanding diverse perspectives while relying on evidence-based arguments.
   Furthermore, they offer no definition of what these ‘values’ are or how they are twisted. And the argument continues to make a very bad case of…

8. post hoc fallacy:

   Argument from article: “We'll get to a point where society will let people get away with murder and rape under the twisted reasoning that it helps them "feel" affirmed, valued, understood and included. You think I'm being dramatic and over the top? Recently, a 15-year-old girl was gang raped by nine young men in Germany. Eight of the men received suspended sentences (so no jail) and the ninth one was sentenced to less than three years in juvenile detention. When a justifiably outraged woman insulted one of the rapists on social media (she called him "a rapist pig" and "a disgusting freak", she got two days of jail for hurting his feelings.^”8*

   *I want to make a quick note and point out the in the original article, the footnote reference they make here is incorrect, and links to something completely unrelated. I have used a footnote reference to the actual article.

   It should not take much to point out that there is no evidence that accepting trans folks and their participation in sports will lead to this social decline and outcome. Just because a tragic instance of sexual assault and rape of the most heinous kind was committed for reasons completely unrelated to trans athletes competing, or the accepting of these unspecified ‘values’ in society. The author is either ignorant, or is being willfully ignorant, of the global risk and rape crisis towards women9. This has always been an issue regardless of LGBT acceptance or participation in sports or not. This is a women’s safety and rights issue, this is a feminist issue, which includes the safety and rights of trans women, who are also victims of this sad reality, not the cause of it.

9. Straw man argument:

   Argument from the article: "Fatima Goss Graves, President and CEO of National Women's Law Center, an entity which purports to have women's best interest at heart, said, during a Title IX hearing in December 2023, that female athletes need 'to learn to lose gracefully' when they lose to confused men competing against them."
   

   This statement misrepresents the position of those who support inclusive policies for transgender athletes. It suggests that they do not care about the well-being of cisgender female athletes, which is not an accurate portrayal of their stance. Advocates for transgender inclusion in sports often emphasize the importance of creating fair and equitable conditions for all athletes, taking into account factors such as hormone levels and the duration of hormone therapy.10 Again, we are disregarding the inconvenient truth that trans people are at a physical disadvantage compared to their cisgender opponents.

As you can see, the original article relies on logical fallacies and unsupported claims, and actively spreads misinformation and perpetuates harmful stereotypes about transgender athletes and trans folks in general. Such rhetoric contributes to a climate of fear and hostility towards transgender individuals, making it more difficult to have productive, fact-based discussions about creating inclusive and equitable environments in sports. It is crucial to recognize the real-world impact of this misinformation on the lives of transgender people and the importance of countering it with evidence-based arguments and reliable sources.

Furthermore, the targeted readership of the original article, and all articles at pittparents.com are parents that are seeking guidance and support during a challenging time. Here we can see that they are being exposed to misinformation and harmful stereotypes, which can exacerbate their fears and hinder their ability to provide the love and support their children need. The article's rhetoric may lead these parents to doubt their child's identity, delay or deny access to gender-affirming care, or engage in harmful behaviors such as rejection or attempts to change their child's gender identity11. These actions can have severe consequences for the mental health and well-being of transgender youth, who are already at a higher risk for depression, anxiety, and suicide12. And based on the articles from the parents themselves, and what they share in their comments, we can see that this is indeed what ends up happening. It is crucial for parents to have access to accurate, evidence-based information and resources to help them navigate this journey with empathy, understanding, and unconditional love for their children.1314

By engaging with the evidence and expert opinions from relevant fields, we can foster a more informed and compassionate discussion about creating inclusive environments that ensure fair competition and respect for all athletes, regardless of their gender identity. I encourage readers to approach this topic with critical thinking, empathy, and a commitment to understanding diverse perspectives while rejecting harmful stereotypes and misinformation. Only through open and honest dialogue, based on facts and mutual respect, can we work towards a more equitable society for all.

“As parents, our job is to love and support our children unconditionally. When we allow fear and misinformation to guide our actions, we risk causing irreparable harm to the very people we want to protect." - Sarah McBride