Every time one turns around, there’s a story about a trans athlete invading the athletics and locker rooms of female athletes without permission from the athletes. It usually occurs in high school or university sports, and each story is heartbreaking for the female athletes who are humiliated. We’ve seen these invasions in basketball, boxing, cycling, fencing, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and so on.
It’s a horse of a different color when boys and girls compete on the playground or even participate together in intramural sports. There are times when a young lady has a skill as a place kicker for a boys high school football team and is accepted as a player. There are mixed doubles in tennis and some track and field events. However, in all of these scenarios no one is identifying as the opposite sex and the mixture creates a level playing field of competition at any level of sports.
Obviously, males who identify as females are for the most part faster and stronger than the girls that they compete against. So why do they do it? Is it a power trip or do they feel that they can’t compete well against other biological males? It’s hard to fathom how anyone could celebrate defeating a female who is not as fast or as strong as the trans athlete. Wouldn’t that be the height of cheating and narcissism? One wonders why a trans athlete wouldn’t improve in mental and physical toughness in order to compete against other male athletes.
As young people develop into puberty, they often undergo emotional, mental, physical, and social changes that they find challenging. They aren’t quite children and not yet mature enough to be adults. Emotions come and go, physical changes might make them feel awkward at times, and they want to fit in with their peers. They might even be wrestling with spiritual questions and their purpose in life.
There are some teens who experience dysphoria and are vulnerable to social media influencers that might prompt them to try to alter their sex. They might start to use pronouns at odds with their sex or be persuaded to ingest cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers or even undergo radical surgeries.
Pharmaceuticals often come with side effects and youngsters may not be fully aware that the powerful drugs they take can generate damage to their internal systems and in some cases cause sterility. They might not be fully informed regarding the moderate-to-long-term effects of these drugs and any altering surgeries that can lead to irreversible physical suffering. One wonders why anyone who allegedly cares about young people would recommend such extreme measures to someone who is vulnerable to outside advice. Even many liberal European nations are putting the brakes on unscientific procedures for minors, while the International Olympic Committee has banned trans athletes from competing in female sports.
Bringing Youngsters Into the Light
Some might argue that there are only a few trans women in high school and college athletics, so what’s all the fuss about? Well, even if one trans individual invades female sports, it turns fair play and Title IX upside down. How can healthy and just competition occur in sports when the victor is a foregone conclusion? The actions of one person can negatively affect many female athletes who expect a level playing field and personal privacy.The trans model creates much suffering. First, female athletes are often censored for exposing males who invade female sports. Next, the individual who is persuaded to transition will find that attempting to detransition is fraught with suffering similar to the transition process. In many cases, either process can generate depression and suicidal ideation. Third, the culture suffers because of the transgender industry’s shrill attempts to demonize the majority of commonsense folks who speak the truth.
For those who are tempted to transition or even start the process, think before you enter a very dark space that could be extremely difficult to extricate oneself from. If an individual is going through challenges during puberty and might be confused, a counselor, friends, and parents can offer guidance and support. All teens experience issues growing up, and they may or may not be satisfied with their bodies.
However, if teens begin to realize that they are not alone in their challenges, they might be better capable of accepting themselves despite all of their imperfections. If they understand that emotions can be fleeting, they can better manage their feelings through reasoning and activities that take them out of self-absorption.
Most youngsters can endure the roller coaster of the teen years. Their development can be eased by exercising, making friends, reducing screen time, spending time in nature, performing chores, reading, writing, prayer, voluntary activities, and the pursuit of a spiritual path.
