Geez Louise. The left tries to ruin everything.
Professional surfer and one-armed-athlete Bethany Hamilton is set to speak at the Oshkosh Women's Fund's Annual Power of the Purse event in Wisconsin in May. And due to her past statements on protecting real women in sports, protestors are boycotting the event and trying to get others to do the same.
Because as we all know, the left hates to see anything that they disagree with succeed.
The event coordinators announced last week that Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack in 2003 before going on to become a decorated surfer, would be the keynote speaker.
“Bethany’s story of overcoming obstacles and living with resilience, perseverance, and heart has helped her live an Unstoppable life. We’re thrilled for the community to hear her message - in hopes that it will inspire others to live unstoppable,” the Facebook announcement noted.
Back in February of last year, Hamilton announced that she refused to compete in World Surf League events after the group adopted the International Surfing Association’s policies to allow "transgender women" (aka men) to compete in women’s surfing competitions. At the time, Hamilton posted a video to social media backing up her boycott of the competition.
“I personally think that the best solution would be to create a different division so that all can have a fair opportunity to showcase their passion and talent,” she said at the time, according to Newsweek.
This past Tuesday, a letter was released that was signed by “dozens” of individuals from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, protesting Hamilton’s presence at the upcoming event. The letter read, in part:
Bethany Hamilton wants transgender surfers to be segregated into a separate athletic division. Currently, there are no transgender athletes competing in the World Surf League, and only one transgender athlete, Australian longboard surfer Sasha Jane Lowerson, has ever won a professional surfing competition.
Bethany Hamilton's boycott is not motivated by concerns about athlete safety or maintaining the integrity of a professional sport. Bethany Hamilton simply does not personally want to accept transgender women as women.
Yeah, maybe because transgender women aren’t women? How 'bout that for some food for thought?
While this group protests, others are in full support of not only Hamilton, but legal protection for women's safety, fairness, and the uniqueness of women’s sports in general.
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Riley Gaines, former NCAA swimmer who had to compete against transgender athlete Lia Thomas, used the opportunity to promote an event that she and Hamilton will both be at.
“Men should not compete in women's surfing,” one group wrote. “Solidarity, Bethany. Women deserve our own sports,” another insisted. One more wrote something similar: “Agree. Solidarity @bethanyhamilton. What a fantastic role model for girls and women in sport. Don't let the sexist misogynists get to you! Male surfers (however they identify) should be nowhere near women's surfing.”
It’s rather unfortunate that saying that women deserve equal and fair opportunities to compete is enough to cause controversy. Kudos to Hamilton and anyone else who recognizes that.
