Charlotte I read this on Twitter this am and I’m always struck with your calmness and grace in the face of idiocy, grifters, bigotry, etc. This essay Is a gift to people like me. I don’t have all the facts at the front of my brain, nor the lived experience of being gay or trans. I get angry and emotional about the hate and lies directed towards my friends trying to simply live their lives. My friends’ kids trying to grow into their best selves. My emotion doesn’t help them nearly as much as my ability to articulate and you help me with that every day. Thank you. 💙
Great piece, Charlotte. My husband and I are huge cycling fans and we were staunch defenders of Armstrong’s, too, right down to the yellow bracelets. The fact he has been welcomed back to any degree is infuriating to us. The fact he is exploiting this important issue is unsurprising but still disgusting. We will be sure to debate this with anyone who brings it up.
Spot on as usual, Charlotte. I too worshipped Lance Armstrong and was absolutely devastated when the truth came out. I don't feel the least bit sorry for him; he lied and lied and lied again. I defended him for years to my friends who were sure he was doping. Ugh. And Caitlyn Jenner is what is called in Spanish "aprovechadora" meaning someone who takes advantage of others - and not in a good way. Your insights are eye-opening. Thank you.
An outstanding piece! Perfect analysis of Lance Armstrong’s many sporting misdeeds. Even better insight into Caitlyn Jenner’s bizarre stance on trans individuals and trans girls/women’s right to participate in sports of their choosing. These two deserve each other, but no one deserves to endure watching this travesty of an interview.
There's so much misinformation and biased coverage out there that can sound persuasive to someone who is not knowledgeable. Therefore it has a huge impact on public opinion and sentiment -- especially when it comes from so-called supporters and even members of the trans community. As an ally who is also a board member of Sam & Devorah Foundation for Transgender Youth, I thank you for this. The challenge is not just getting out accurate information, it's responding directly, point by point, to misinformation, "unmasking" those who spread it, and identifying specific areas of fair and informed debate among those qualified to do so. You did all of that here.
I saw your thread on Twitter and added a comment, but came here to add a few thoughts. This is not a good-faith conversation that's being initiated by Armstrong; it's an effort at laundering his own reputation (if that is possible) by hating on athletes he perceives as being even more loathed than he is. You know, the "I'm scum, but look over here!!" whataboutism approach.
There are, as you say, rational conversations to be had. Before Oscar Pistorius became a murderer, there were discussions on whether his springy prosthetics gave him a speed advantage. I used to fence competitively, and a friend of mine who still does so on the veterans circuit complained about the height and strength advantage of a MTF trans epeeist, a sport in which height and strength matter a lot. I wrecked my shoulder competing against women a foot taller than I was, so at the time we argued about whether that was the same thing or not and came to a draw. But there's a conversation in there, as the male-hormone-addled East German swimmers of yore can attest.
In the current climate, I don't think we can have that conversation. "Trans" has become a battle slogan for the right-wing extremists, like "woke" and "CRT": part of a deliberate, fascist-born strategy to farm outrage and create "in-groups" by labelling common enemies. First, the pendulum needs to swing back to sanity, especially in the US.
I love to read all your blogs! You consistently reinforce why I have followed you for years- you’re so talented. Thank you. I also remember being amazed at L.A. and his sports accomplishments and my disbelief when it all fell apart. I will save this article as an excellent post for those that want to engage me or my family members in the “trans in sports” discussions.
Charlotte I read this on Twitter this am and I’m always struck with your calmness and grace in the face of idiocy, grifters, bigotry, etc. This essay Is a gift to people like me. I don’t have all the facts at the front of my brain, nor the lived experience of being gay or trans. I get angry and emotional about the hate and lies directed towards my friends trying to simply live their lives. My friends’ kids trying to grow into their best selves. My emotion doesn’t help them nearly as much as my ability to articulate and you help me with that every day. Thank you. 💙
Great piece, Charlotte. My husband and I are huge cycling fans and we were staunch defenders of Armstrong’s, too, right down to the yellow bracelets. The fact he has been welcomed back to any degree is infuriating to us. The fact he is exploiting this important issue is unsurprising but still disgusting. We will be sure to debate this with anyone who brings it up.
Spot on as usual, Charlotte. I too worshipped Lance Armstrong and was absolutely devastated when the truth came out. I don't feel the least bit sorry for him; he lied and lied and lied again. I defended him for years to my friends who were sure he was doping. Ugh. And Caitlyn Jenner is what is called in Spanish "aprovechadora" meaning someone who takes advantage of others - and not in a good way. Your insights are eye-opening. Thank you.
Thank you for your time and expertise in detailing these two people's utter ineptitude to address this issue
An outstanding piece! Perfect analysis of Lance Armstrong’s many sporting misdeeds. Even better insight into Caitlyn Jenner’s bizarre stance on trans individuals and trans girls/women’s right to participate in sports of their choosing. These two deserve each other, but no one deserves to endure watching this travesty of an interview.
There's so much misinformation and biased coverage out there that can sound persuasive to someone who is not knowledgeable. Therefore it has a huge impact on public opinion and sentiment -- especially when it comes from so-called supporters and even members of the trans community. As an ally who is also a board member of Sam & Devorah Foundation for Transgender Youth, I thank you for this. The challenge is not just getting out accurate information, it's responding directly, point by point, to misinformation, "unmasking" those who spread it, and identifying specific areas of fair and informed debate among those qualified to do so. You did all of that here.
I saw your thread on Twitter and added a comment, but came here to add a few thoughts. This is not a good-faith conversation that's being initiated by Armstrong; it's an effort at laundering his own reputation (if that is possible) by hating on athletes he perceives as being even more loathed than he is. You know, the "I'm scum, but look over here!!" whataboutism approach.
There are, as you say, rational conversations to be had. Before Oscar Pistorius became a murderer, there were discussions on whether his springy prosthetics gave him a speed advantage. I used to fence competitively, and a friend of mine who still does so on the veterans circuit complained about the height and strength advantage of a MTF trans epeeist, a sport in which height and strength matter a lot. I wrecked my shoulder competing against women a foot taller than I was, so at the time we argued about whether that was the same thing or not and came to a draw. But there's a conversation in there, as the male-hormone-addled East German swimmers of yore can attest.
In the current climate, I don't think we can have that conversation. "Trans" has become a battle slogan for the right-wing extremists, like "woke" and "CRT": part of a deliberate, fascist-born strategy to farm outrage and create "in-groups" by labelling common enemies. First, the pendulum needs to swing back to sanity, especially in the US.
I love to read all your blogs! You consistently reinforce why I have followed you for years- you’re so talented. Thank you. I also remember being amazed at L.A. and his sports accomplishments and my disbelief when it all fell apart. I will save this article as an excellent post for those that want to engage me or my family members in the “trans in sports” discussions.
Appreciate your insight about this. Spot on from start to finish. Thanks for continuing to expose the grift.
Spot on! As always, thank you.
You always nail the issue, Charlotte, with passion, wisdom, and beauty. Thank you, as always.