Theresa, thank you for writing such a fact based and informative article. It’s an issue we all struggle with to one extent or another. You helped me navigate it.
Teresa, I am the real curse of the Red Sox. I intentionally stopped following them in 2004, and look what they did. Of course, there might have been a reset. Thank you so very much for this informative article on trans people. You rock!
I have a relative that I grew up with in Charlestown, MA. We're a year apart in age, and I use to protect him from being picked on because of a hearing disability he had. We went to catholic schools, but different parishes. After my family moved, they would come visit us in the 'country' of NH, and I spent as much time as possible in the city. I don't know how I knew that he was different than others, but he was just him, to me. He wanted to be a doctor, so he enlisted in the service so he could go to med school. He became a doctor, stayed in the service, and I believe she transitioned while still in. She did her time, retired from the service after a couple decades, has a practice, I wanna say OB/GYN, but I'm just not sure. I know he did at least one tour in I think it was Afghanistan, because I remember writing to him. He was still him at that point, and his father, a former marine was proud of and loved him. After? Would not acknowledge her, because he had a son, not some abomination. My father wouldn't let her in the house because she refused to let him use her former name. It shames me and pisses me right the fuck off that these holier than thou hypocrites that have brought more corruption to this government than in our entire existence, need to be removed, however possible, from office so America can once more be a place that welcomes all people, regardless of who they are, where they come from, and what pronoun they identity with. Oh, yeah...GO SOX!!
I only know you from what you wrote and how you wrote it in such a refined manner. You only had to read for 15 minutes to have your blood boil and “through” up. Could you get through the first sentence in only 15 minutes? Your kindergarten teacher and parole officer must be very proud.
Thanks for covering this very important issue. To read more about why we should all care, see this piece in Sunday’s NYT about my home state of Kansas. This gift link lets you read for free:
This is the best piece I’ve ever read on this multi-faceted subject. I learned a lot. It pulls together clear, easily understood information and, best of all, shows a caring, responsible, open spirit for our fellow humans who might vary from what we have been used to or aware of. Thank you, Teresa!
Hi Rhoda, some sports group have tried that, and it doesn't really work. Very few join the coed group. And there aren't enough trans athletes to form a separate category.
Thats too bad, poor kids have enough to deal with. I am glad I grew up when sandlot sports were happening all over town, they were coed, we played hard, had fun and adults kept their personal issues to themselves and left us to it.
Hi Lisa -- in fact, there are many trans men who play men's sports. Unlike trans women, they are not banned. That's because even though hormone therapy can increase muscle mass, it can't make them taller or faster etc. However, many sports organizations do have testosterone testing.
So incredibly disheartening
Thank you, Teresa, for such a compelling article.
Theresa, thank you for writing such a fact based and informative article. It’s an issue we all struggle with to one extent or another. You helped me navigate it.
Hi Teresa,
Thank you for reminding us that we are all humans and inclusivity is essential to all of us, but especially for those who are marginalized.
After reading this article, I am able to see the forest through the trees. Great piece of work!
Such a terrific overview!
Teresa, I am the real curse of the Red Sox. I intentionally stopped following them in 2004, and look what they did. Of course, there might have been a reset. Thank you so very much for this informative article on trans people. You rock!
I have a relative that I grew up with in Charlestown, MA. We're a year apart in age, and I use to protect him from being picked on because of a hearing disability he had. We went to catholic schools, but different parishes. After my family moved, they would come visit us in the 'country' of NH, and I spent as much time as possible in the city. I don't know how I knew that he was different than others, but he was just him, to me. He wanted to be a doctor, so he enlisted in the service so he could go to med school. He became a doctor, stayed in the service, and I believe she transitioned while still in. She did her time, retired from the service after a couple decades, has a practice, I wanna say OB/GYN, but I'm just not sure. I know he did at least one tour in I think it was Afghanistan, because I remember writing to him. He was still him at that point, and his father, a former marine was proud of and loved him. After? Would not acknowledge her, because he had a son, not some abomination. My father wouldn't let her in the house because she refused to let him use her former name. It shames me and pisses me right the fuck off that these holier than thou hypocrites that have brought more corruption to this government than in our entire existence, need to be removed, however possible, from office so America can once more be a place that welcomes all people, regardless of who they are, where they come from, and what pronoun they identity with. Oh, yeah...GO SOX!!
Excellent article and as someone already commented, very educational. As for the Sox, no sport is affected by “reversal to the mean” as baseball is.
Reno,
I only know you from what you wrote and how you wrote it in such a refined manner. You only had to read for 15 minutes to have your blood boil and “through” up. Could you get through the first sentence in only 15 minutes? Your kindergarten teacher and parole officer must be very proud.
Thank you Teresa for writing about this in such a plain and clear way.
As usual with Teresa, this is an informed and thoughtful article. Thank you for bringing your wisdom and insight to this thorny topic.
Thank you Teresa for this excellent article. You did such a great job breaking it down so that even people without any familiarity can understand it.
Thanks for covering this very important issue. To read more about why we should all care, see this piece in Sunday’s NYT about my home state of Kansas. This gift link lets you read for free:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/13/opinion/kansas-anti-trans-laws-drivers-license.html?unlocked_article_code=1.5FA.DPtx.VQyGoYINNzrg&smid=nytcore-ios-share
Hey thanks for this, Martha. Terrific piece.
Trans women are men. No one is banning men from sports,
This is the best piece I’ve ever read on this multi-faceted subject. I learned a lot. It pulls together clear, easily understood information and, best of all, shows a caring, responsible, open spirit for our fellow humans who might vary from what we have been used to or aware of. Thank you, Teresa!
It would be so easy to simply create a third category... mens, womens, coed. There.
Hi Rhoda, some sports group have tried that, and it doesn't really work. Very few join the coed group. And there aren't enough trans athletes to form a separate category.
Thats too bad, poor kids have enough to deal with. I am glad I grew up when sandlot sports were happening all over town, they were coed, we played hard, had fun and adults kept their personal issues to themselves and left us to it.
Excellent article! I do have one question, tho. Why are there no trans males in men’s sports?
Hi Lisa -- in fact, there are many trans men who play men's sports. Unlike trans women, they are not banned. That's because even though hormone therapy can increase muscle mass, it can't make them taller or faster etc. However, many sports organizations do have testosterone testing.
There are. She just focused on trans women in women's sports because that's the issue that people are most focused on.