Executive Ban on Transgender Women in Women’s Sports: What is DSC’s Take?
Two weeks ago, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning biological men from competing in women’s sports. As expected, this brought controversy, stirring up the opinions of many students at Daytona State College.
SGA president and student at DSC, Natasha Powell, voiced much relief around this ban, “It still truly astonishes me that I lived through a time in history when men were allowed to compete against women in athletics,” she said. “It’s incredibly reassuring to know that there will never be another Payton McNabb.”
Payton McNabb, a former high school volleyball player, was playing a game when a transgender athlete spiked the ball, hitting McNabb in the face. According to the New York Post, “Everyone else — including the trans player — ultimately finished the game, while McNabb was rushed off the court with a concussion, neck injury and two black eyes.” writer Rikki Schlott added. “The full extent of her injury unfolded over weeks, as McNabb was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, a brain bleed, partial paralysis and loss of peripheral vision on her right side. She also suffered ongoing memory loss, confusion and severe headaches.”
This is a major talking point of many, not falling short of concerns about the competition’s general unfairness. This includes Hayden Herndon, DSC track athlete and student, “…it is unfair to those women who work so hard, every single day of their lives, for so many years, all of that training, just to get snubbed at a championship by a biological male.” he says. “If we (male athletes) were in that position, you know, I feel like it would be so unfair.”
The controversy involving women’s sports activist Riley Gaines and transgender athlete Lia Thomas was mentioned by Cecilia Lewandowski, a DSC student and athlete, “He (Thomas) was very low on the men’s scoreboards, but as soon as he moved to the women’s sports, he shot right up to the top.” she said.
Holding a new perspective, Lauren Krampitz, a cybersecurity student on campus, “It makes sense given genetic differences, however, having it be put in place as an executive order signals it’s more of a restriction of the rights of trans women rather than it being in protection of biological women in women’s leagues and sports.” she said. “It feels like a slippery slope that seems to disproportionately target an already marginalized and persecuted community.”
Donald Trump signed many executive orders at the beginning of his second term, many of which that are flagged as restriction against the transgender community. According to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, this includes “Placing restrictions on federal gender markers” and “Reinstating and expanding the military ban on transgender service members”, among others.
This concern over restriction of transgender rights and opportunities is deeply resonant with many. Samanta Gonzalez, political science student, said, “I think the executive ban is really disappointing because they’re facing such hard setbacks in activities at school that can help develop leadership, social skills, stuff like that.” she said. “This ban kind of reinforces the negative stereotypes behind transgender people who are playing in sports.”