Caitlyn Jenner, who is both an Olympic champion and transgender, has come out against allowing biological boys to compete in girls sports.
Jenner, who formerly was identified by the name Bruce, was questioned by the entertainment outlet TMZ while in a shopping center parking lot a little more than a week after announcing the intention of running in the California gubernatorial recall election.
“This is a question of fairness,” Jenner responded. “That’s why I oppose biological boys who are trans competing in girls’ sports in school. It just isn’t fair, and we have to protect girls’ sports in our schools.”
READ: Girls sports and biological boys
The TMZ reporter began to ask a follow-up question, inquiring as to whether refusing to allow a person “who now identifies as a girl” to compete in female-only athletic contests was “delegitimizing their identity.” Before the reporter could finish the question, Jenner cut off the reporter, telling him to “have a good day.”
Previously, Jenner indicated support for allowing biological males who identify as females to compete in women’s sports. Upon receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2015 ESPN ESPY Awards shortly after coming out as trans-identified, Jenner acknowledged “all the young trans athletes who are out there given the chance to play sports as who they really are.”
Jenner responded to the TMZ interview in a tweet. “I didn’t expect to get asked this on my Saturday morning coffee run, but I’m clear about where I stand,” Jenner wrote. “It’s an issue of fairness and we need to protect girls’ sports in our schools.”
Jenner’s latest comments come as several states have passed legislation restricting participation in women’s sports to biological females. Jenner, a self-described “compassionate disrupter,” announced a campaign for California governor if incumbent Gavin Newsom is recalled.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
