U.S.A. university Princeton comes out in support of trans athletes

In the U.S.A., Princeton’s college newspaper has spoken out against policies that prevent trans athletes from participating in women’s sports.

In an opinion piece published on Monday (28 October) in the Daily Princetonian, the Ivy League university’s newspaper, the argument was made that trans athletes “deserve better” both at the New Jersey college and throughout the U.S.A.

Charlie Yale’s article suggested that Princeton has a specific issue with trans inclusion, highlighting a recent poll showing that 43.4 percent of students favour a ban on trans women in competitive sports, while only 28 percent oppose it.

“This data reveals that Princeton students hold anti-trans beliefs,” Yale stated. “We must admit this openly, interrogate why this is the case, and commit to ending pervasive transphobia in our community.”

Yale also criticised several colleges that have recently forfeited volleyball matches against San José State University due to concerns that one player on the women’s team is trans, according to ‘MSN’.

The player involved has not publicly addressed the controversy, and, respecting their privacy, their name has not been disclosed. Despite a lack of evidence regarding their gender identity, politicians and right-wing commentators have accused the player of being trans.

Yale referred to the matches as “seemingly inconsequential” and, pointing to “inflamed tensions” within the university’s diving community following the situation with trans competitor Lia Thomas, argued that the opposition to trans athletes “concerns everyone” because “it is a sign of the broader transphobic sentiment to come.”

They continued: “We must address this because Princeton, particularly, it seems, takes issue with trans athletes. “The purpose of this article is not to deride Princeton athletics, nor do I bring any profound solutions to the table. What both students and the administration must work to change, as repeatedly highlighted by former Princeton wrestler AJ Lonski ’23, is the culture.”

The ongoing so-called culture wars regarding trans inclusion have consistently been fuelled by right-wing figures “in bad faith,” using trans participation “as a wedge issue to demonize transgender people,” the article claimed.

“If trans women do have any athletic ‘advantage,’ it isn’t decisive: the singular out-trans NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) champion Lia Thomas was slower than the NCAA record in the 500 freestyle by over nine seconds [and] doesn’t even scratch the top-10 fastest times in women’s NCAA history.

“Thomas was a good swimmer in the men’s category but that doesn’t mean she had an unfair advantage.”