At a rally in Virginia on Saturday, former President Donald Trump welcomed to the stage seven members of the women’s college swim team who publicly opposed the possible addition of a transgender team member last year.
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All seven were wearing pink shirts with the word “Keep” written on them in white. [image of a hot dog] From the world of women’s sports. ”
The young women were members of Roanoke College’s 2023 women’s swim team when a trans woman asked if she could join the team. The anonymous swimmer was previously a member of the school’s boys swim team. After taking a year off from the sport, she aimed to return to competitive swimming as a woman. She ultimately withdrew her request, but several teammates and their families went public with the story.
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President Trump disparaged the transgender community before welcoming the seven athletes to the stage. “When the radical left’s gender insanity arrived here in Salem last year, trans women transferred to the university and considered joining the team,” he said. Afterwards, they welcomed seven players to the stage.
“The brave members of the swim team stood up to transgender fanatics,” President Trump said. “There is something new in our country.”
Team captain Lily Mullens took to the microphone and delivered prepared remarks.
“As female athletes in particular, we know that men have an inherent advantage over women in sports. But because of current policies, men are unable to compete against women of all ages in all sports. “There are,” Mullens said. “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have supported, advocated for, and promoted this anti-women, gender-based discrimination that continues across this country. And, frankly, it’s unfair.”
The unfair advantage trans women have is disputed by activists and scientists. One of the latest studies, funded by the International Olympic Committee and conducted at the University of Brighton in the UK, suggests that trans women are less like cisgender men than commonly thought.
Study on trans women published in April British Journal of Sports Medicine, They had better grip strength than cis women, but lower jumping ability than both cis women and cis men, as well as lower lung and cardiorespiratory fitness than cis women.
“Long-term transition research in transgender athletes is urgently needed, but these results do not support preventive bans or exclusions from sports eligibility that are not based on sport-specific (or sport-related) research. “This is a warning against the spread of the virus,” the study concludes.
The IOC relies on each sport’s governing body to decide whether trans athletes can compete. The National Collegiate Athletic Association has a similar policy. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, which represents small colleges, has banned transgender women from participating in women’s sports. 25 states are Laws or policies that limit the participation of trans students This applies to public school sports, and parts of the law also apply to universities and, to some extent, private schools.
Mullens thanked President Trump for “pledged to stand with women and protect the rights of all of us.”
“We are so lucky to have a leader like Donald Trump with common sense who understands what it means to be a strong woman and who will fight for generations of girls to come,” Mullens said. he concluded.
“What a job. Thank you, Lily.”
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The team members’ appearance at Trump’s rally shocked the local community. Roanoke College President Frank Shewshock issued a statement noting that students were expressing their personal views and that the school encourages diversity in individual expression.
“Our students include students with diverse political viewpoints; LGBTQ+ Identity is a gift to our community and is highly valued. ” Shushok said in a statement. “At this moment, we have the potential to turn against each other and cause division, thereby adding to the suffering that is already rampant in our world. Over the years, I have been inspired by what I have seen many times: people walking the path less traveled and aspiring to the highest virtues of love, humility, respect, and kindness.”
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