In a recent column, Tom Waddell mischaracterizes those who believe women’s sports are for biological women as “far-right Christian nationalists.” (“Far right spreads fear about transgender athletes“). As a (non-Christian) feminist and Democrat, I’m weary of this deceptive tactic from those who want to diminish the hard-won rights of women. It’s neither a far-right belief nor a religious one to think women and girls deserve a fair chance in our own sports.

Waddell also misrepresents the work of Dr. Emma Hilton, a noted biologist (and left-wing atheist), whose work showing that trans athletes retain most speed and strength advantages even after years on cross-sex hormones has been corroborated by over a dozen studies by other scientists.

Male puberty confers physical advantages that can’t be undone by hormone therapy. For example, larger hearts and lungs pump more oxygen-rich blood to working muscles faster, less-tilted femurs lower resistance on the knees, and denser muscle fibers increase physical power. Acknowledging these biological sex differences is neither political nor religious.

Of course trans athletes should play sports, but sports are played with bodies, not identities. Fairness dictates that everyone compete against their biological sex.

Waddell says it’s fine for some female athletes to lose team spots, prize money and wins because trans athletes aren’t “dominating” women’s sports. In fact, the number of trans athletes winning in women’s sports is growing every day. One example: in just the past six months, trans athletes have won over 20 US women’s cycling races.

2023 was the first year that New Mexico’s Tour of the Gila awarded equal prize money to women. The $10,000 women’s prize went to trans cyclist Austin Killips. Hannah Arensman, a 35-time cyclocross winner, quit the sport this year at age 25, saying women no longer stand a chance against the influx of trans competitors. It isn’t “far-right” to know that’s unfair.

Jennifer Gingrich

Portland