Cisgender Cyclist Slams ‘Ridiculous’ Anti-Trans Outrage After Placing Third Behind Two Trans Athletes
In a recent amateur cycling championship held in Illinois, Kristen Chalmers, a cisgender cyclist, placed third behind two transgender athletes, Tessa Johnson and Evelyn Williamson. While Chalmers didn’t see her third-place finish as a big deal, the event quickly became the center of attention for anti-trans activists who are campaigning for trans women to be banned from women’s sports.
The controversy began when right-wing news publications and individuals shared photos of Chalmers standing on the winner’s podium alongside Johnson and Williamson. They argued that allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports was an infringement on women’s rights, showcasing the irony of their claims.
However, Chalmers herself has now spoken out, dismissing the outrage surrounding her placement. In an interview with NBC News, she stated, “I think it would be ridiculous to say my life is being ruined by getting third in this.” Chalmers emphasized that she did not want to sacrifice other people’s enjoyment of the sport she loves just to claim a state championship title.
Chalmers acknowledged that the race was an amateur event with only five competitors. She also highlighted that having strong competitors like Johnson and Williamson made the competition more exciting. In fact, she thoroughly enjoyed the race and believed it would have been less engaging without such fierce competition.
Despite being friends with Johnson and Williamson, Chalmers was not blind to the fact that there were other events held that day where non-trans athletes emerged as winners. She emphasized that the focus on this specific race was misplaced and exaggerated.
Chalmers is one of several cisgender athletes who have co-signed an open letter supporting the right of trans women to participate in sports. The letter, signed by cis-women racers of the Chicago Cyclocross Cup, states, “We refuse to be falsely presented as victims in a manufactured controversy driven to further alienate and marginalize those most vulnerable within our community, in service of rampant and harmful anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.” They firmly assert that inclusion makes their sport and community stronger, and that trans women are women.
Chalmers believes that the cycling community’s support for inclusion is a powerful statement. She stated, “The cycling community is making a really strong statement that we care about inclusion and that our sport is better when we include everyone.”
However, the world of cycling has recently witnessed new restrictions on trans athletes. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world’s cycling governing body, updated its policy to ban all trans female athletes who started puberty before their transition from competing in women’s races. Following suit, USA Cycling aligned with the UCI’s policy by segregating trans athletes who wish to compete in domestic races into two categories.
These restrictions for trans athletes come at a time when 24 US states and counting have adopted laws and regulations to limit the participation of trans youth on gender-aligned sports teams. The debate surrounding trans inclusion in sports continues to be a contentious issue.
In conclusion, Kristen Chalmers, the cisgender cyclist who placed third behind two transgender athletes in an amateur cycling championship, has called out the “ridiculous” anti-trans outrage surrounding her placement. She emphasized that she did not see her third-place finish as a personal loss, but rather an opportunity to support inclusivity in sports. Chalmers, along with other cisgender athletes, signed an open letter defending the right of trans women to participate in sports. The recent restrictions imposed by the UCI and USA Cycling on trans athletes highlight the ongoing debate surrounding trans inclusion in sports.
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