Bethany Hamilton is not on board with the World Surf League’s (WSL) new policy on transgender athletes (no pun intended).
Hamilton, who lost an arm in a shark attack at the age of 13 but went on to become a world-class surfer, criticized the WSL for allowing transgendered females to surf in the women’s division. The WSL announced last week that transgender surfers will have to maintain low testosterone levels for roughly a year before they can compete.
“The WSL is working hard to balance equity and fairness and it’s important for a policy to be in place,” WSL Chief of Sport Jessi Miley-Dyer said. “We recognize that the policy may need to evolve over time as we get feedback and see new research in the field.”
Hamilton quickly provided some “feedback” on Twitter, in which she stated she would not compete in the WSL if she were forced to compete against men.
Surfing champion Bethany Hamilton has just announced she will NOT compete in the World Surf League anymore if they allow biological men to surf in the women’s events. She’s already an absolute legend but this stand makes her even more of a legend. Thank you @bethanyhamilton! pic.twitter.com/gF2qa7cD84
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) February 5, 2023
“I personally won’t be competing in, or supporting, the World Surf League if this rule remains,” Hamilton said.
I don’t know what research or feedback you need other than that. But in addition to Hamilton’s words, any time transgenders have been permitted to compete in women's sports, the reception has been largely negative.
Fans and athletes don’t like it when Lia Thomas participates in the women’s division of collegiate swimming, or when male track athletes can compete against females in Connecticut, or when transgenders compete alongside women in world-level shot put events.
That's because most people understand that transgenders are harming women in their search for "equality." Thankfully, we have people like Hamilton that rebuke stupidity like this and say what most of us are thinking.
