Comments are locked and will probably just be paywalled in the future. Following me around on the internet to misgender and harass me is a waste of time and energy. I'm not interested in having bad faith discussions or people unwilling to seriously engage with the subject they purport to be so passionate about.
Detransitioning to race bikes is a preposterous and cruel burden to place on someone. HRT has a scientifically proven impact on performance. You can debate the extent but from even a pure sporting and fairness perspective racing with the men is untenable. I would not be alive if I didn't transition and will not seriously engage with the implicit idea that I should detransition to continue racing.
Please consider our consider our shared obligation to do right by another when moving through the world.
“ I do not need to line up at a World Cup again but I won’t be able to sleep at night if I’m not fighting for the next woman who deserves a shot at everything this sport has given me.”
This. Yes. A thousand times yes. Which is why I love and respect you with everything I’ve got, Austin
To say trans women benefit from ANY male advantages/privilege, is just false. The fact you feel the need to hold onto this so tightly is what concerns me. why not LISTEN (to trans people and their lived experiences) instead? you are choosing to die on this hill instead of reading, learning, or trying to understand the other side of the argument. and before you suggest i do the same thing, i ALSO used to believe trans women "had no idea what it was like to be a woman" etc etc but, i grew, i learned, and i embraced my fellow humans instead of holding onto weird ass views/ideas about policing other peoples bodies/experiences. so many people i love and respect are trans or gender non-conforming, and the idea of their very existence being so heavily policed by everyone else is frankly sickening. so no, I am not ok. i am filled with disgust every day because of the hate and judgement wielded so carelessly like people. like. you. my gender, cis female, is the least interesting thing about me. and i think everyone else's gender is equally un-interesting.
do you race bikes? work in the industry? how does this affect you personally? im so curious to know how this decision touches YOUR life.
Listen, this is a divide that I'm not sure can be bridged. I'm not a right-winger, and I have no religious affiliation, but I am a sports fan. And I believe with all my heart that a transgender woman or girl (born a male) should not be competing with non-trans women or girls - for the same reason that men and boys are generally not allowed to compete against women or girls. There is a genetic (physical) difference that cannot be undone. This does not mean that a transgender woman isn't free to live her fullest life outside of athletic competition. On the contrary, I would hope that the act of a person transitioning would bring a greater amount of joy to the world - apart from the right of trans-women to compete in athletic events against non-trans women.
I support women's sports and Trans rights. There is room for trans people in sports with weight, height, and other important classifications that establish fairness. Competitor classification systems have been a part of sport since its origins with the goal of eliminating discrimination and maintaining fairness...which matter equally. Wrestling is a perfect example...you don't pit a 140 lb. person against someone weighing 200 lbs. Trans athletes who want to compete should consider and support the equality and rights of natal female athletes.
Austin, you are a phenom and I know you will be equally successful in your next endeavor. watching you race been such an important part of my time in the bike industry. thank you for being a class act.
I'm so glad you were able to give your all and see at least some of the results of that, but even more glad to hear you say that you've enjoyed and relished the moments it's brought you. That's what I always wanted for you.
Austin... I am happy that you have been able to compete and do what makes you happy. It just feels like the governing bodies such as UCI are not trying to exclude you or others but keep the playing field level. I hope you will consider competing still as if makes you and many others happy!
maryanne. girlie. your bio on substack says "Work hard and learn to love and accept yourself." ....... ....................... keep working, babe. you are missing the point entirely.
zelda honey, i'm so sorry that you don't understand the meaning of mental illness. weaponizing medical terms isn't the way, boo boo. continue to look inward, and ask yourself "why am i commenting on a stranger's deeply emotional and personal substack, when i have zero horses in this race?" <3 best of luck to you :*
so the way to healing the divide/bridging the gap in america, you're suggesting, is to heavily police the existence of a very select few individuals? do you see why that might be harmful?
Comments are locked and will probably just be paywalled in the future. Following me around on the internet to misgender and harass me is a waste of time and energy. I'm not interested in having bad faith discussions or people unwilling to seriously engage with the subject they purport to be so passionate about.
Detransitioning to race bikes is a preposterous and cruel burden to place on someone. HRT has a scientifically proven impact on performance. You can debate the extent but from even a pure sporting and fairness perspective racing with the men is untenable. I would not be alive if I didn't transition and will not seriously engage with the implicit idea that I should detransition to continue racing.
Please consider our consider our shared obligation to do right by another when moving through the world.
“ I do not need to line up at a World Cup again but I won’t be able to sleep at night if I’m not fighting for the next woman who deserves a shot at everything this sport has given me.”
This. Yes. A thousand times yes. Which is why I love and respect you with everything I’ve got, Austin
*you’re
Maryanne, are you ok?
To say trans women benefit from ANY male advantages/privilege, is just false. The fact you feel the need to hold onto this so tightly is what concerns me. why not LISTEN (to trans people and their lived experiences) instead? you are choosing to die on this hill instead of reading, learning, or trying to understand the other side of the argument. and before you suggest i do the same thing, i ALSO used to believe trans women "had no idea what it was like to be a woman" etc etc but, i grew, i learned, and i embraced my fellow humans instead of holding onto weird ass views/ideas about policing other peoples bodies/experiences. so many people i love and respect are trans or gender non-conforming, and the idea of their very existence being so heavily policed by everyone else is frankly sickening. so no, I am not ok. i am filled with disgust every day because of the hate and judgement wielded so carelessly like people. like. you. my gender, cis female, is the least interesting thing about me. and i think everyone else's gender is equally un-interesting.
do you race bikes? work in the industry? how does this affect you personally? im so curious to know how this decision touches YOUR life.
Those “real biological advantages men have” well, they don’t apply to transwomen. Do your research, then comment, Maryanne.
Listen, this is a divide that I'm not sure can be bridged. I'm not a right-winger, and I have no religious affiliation, but I am a sports fan. And I believe with all my heart that a transgender woman or girl (born a male) should not be competing with non-trans women or girls - for the same reason that men and boys are generally not allowed to compete against women or girls. There is a genetic (physical) difference that cannot be undone. This does not mean that a transgender woman isn't free to live her fullest life outside of athletic competition. On the contrary, I would hope that the act of a person transitioning would bring a greater amount of joy to the world - apart from the right of trans-women to compete in athletic events against non-trans women.
I support women's sports and Trans rights. There is room for trans people in sports with weight, height, and other important classifications that establish fairness. Competitor classification systems have been a part of sport since its origins with the goal of eliminating discrimination and maintaining fairness...which matter equally. Wrestling is a perfect example...you don't pit a 140 lb. person against someone weighing 200 lbs. Trans athletes who want to compete should consider and support the equality and rights of natal female athletes.
So sorry about the UCI ruling. Messaged you using IG Chats. Please take a look when you can.
Thank you Austin for sharing your story with such passion. Thanks for being such an awesome person. I will miss having you in the peloton.
Austin, you are a phenom and I know you will be equally successful in your next endeavor. watching you race been such an important part of my time in the bike industry. thank you for being a class act.
I'm so glad you were able to give your all and see at least some of the results of that, but even more glad to hear you say that you've enjoyed and relished the moments it's brought you. That's what I always wanted for you.
Austin... I am happy that you have been able to compete and do what makes you happy. It just feels like the governing bodies such as UCI are not trying to exclude you or others but keep the playing field level. I hope you will consider competing still as if makes you and many others happy!
listen closely, and you'll hear zero intelligent thoughts coming out of mj <3
ok clearly you arent queer lmao
Transwomen are women. There’s no biological advantage. Do your research, then comment.
She’s a woman though?… Why would she compete against men?
i don't understand why a woman would be forced to compete with men.
maryanne. girlie. your bio on substack says "Work hard and learn to love and accept yourself." ....... ....................... keep working, babe. you are missing the point entirely.
zelda honey, i'm so sorry that you don't understand the meaning of mental illness. weaponizing medical terms isn't the way, boo boo. continue to look inward, and ask yourself "why am i commenting on a stranger's deeply emotional and personal substack, when i have zero horses in this race?" <3 best of luck to you :*
so the way to healing the divide/bridging the gap in america, you're suggesting, is to heavily police the existence of a very select few individuals? do you see why that might be harmful?
I feel like a woman! *cue Shania Twain*
imagine creating a log-in/profile on a website you otherwise don't use, just to leave this comment. lmaooooooo seek help