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* WGN’s Ben Bradley and Andrew Schroedter…
Often lost in the cacophony of criticism on cable news – and along the campaign trail – is perspective on how often people born biologically male are seeking to compete in girls’ sports.
The Illinois High School Association says of the 320,000 student-athletes competing in all IHSA sports at all levels, only three people born male asked for and received waivers to compete in girls’ sports last year. The organization granted just two waivers the year before.
“Most people didn’t really care – they were just there to compete,” said Ashley O’Connor who competed on the Downers Grove South High School badminton team. “I was terrible and barely made the team. … Being there to do that with my friends was so important to my sanity.” […]
The ACLU says the issue has only come up a few times in Illinois because state law specifically allows people to access bathrooms, locker rooms and sports based on their gender identity. Some Illinois republicans want to change that.
“Just because folks around the state might not be in an uproar over one individual – it doesn’t mean it’s not happening,” said state representative Adam Niemberg (R, Dieterich, Illinois).
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:36 am
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==“Just because folks around the state might not be in an uproar over one individual – it doesn’t mean it’s not happening,” said state representative Adam Niemberg (R, Dieterich, Illinois).==
Of all the issues from your district you could have chosen to work on, this is the most important?
Comment by low level Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:38 am
“Just because my culture war hysteria is completely manufactured doesn’t mean I won’t keep pushing it louder and louder on TV and the internet.”
If you are so deeply concerned with the sanctity of girls’ high school badminton, I have some follow-up questions to ask, leading off with “Can I have a look at your browser history?”
Comment by Roadrager Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:45 am
“Just because folks around the state might not be in an uproar over one individual – it doesn’t mean it’s not happening,” said state representative Adam Niemberg (R, Dieterich, Illinois).
Rep, I’m pretty sure there are more people in your district who think they have spent time with little green men on a flying saucer than there are boys trying to compete as girls in sporting events.
Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:48 am
Rep. Niemberg’s high school badminton purity stand.
So brave.
Comment by Squib Kick Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:48 am
- “Just because folks around the state might not be in an uproar over one individual – it doesn’t mean it’s not happening,” -
I’m struggling to form a coherent thought out of this collection of words.
Comment by Excitable Boy Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:50 am
My Congresswoman Mary Miller recently sent out a flyer letting us know she’s focused on the most pressing issues facing the region: the Farm Bill, trans people in sports and defining genders. Guess that’s what all us blue-collar folks truly care about.
Comment by Treefiddy Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:52 am
When you don’t have any issues to run on, you push for panic.
Comment by TJ Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:54 am
This. And according the the NCAA, less than ten college athletes were transgender last year, as testified before Congress.
What we are seeing is the magnitude of hate that exists in society. There is not problem of boys stealing trophies. Heck, the only time that happened, it made a political star out of a swimmer, who is now a millionaire.
Mountains and mole hills.
Comment by H-W Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:56 am
That’s the horrible nature of this hate campaign - and actually most hate campaigns - is that the dangers the vilified pose are lies. A MAGA idiot on the Illinois House floor makes a speech about people becoming Trans to get a competitive advantage in sports (the 0.0009%).
They lie about women being jeopardized in bathrooms. None of the bathrooms I went into as a man pushing his handicapped wife resulted in any embarrassing or compromising situations.
DOGE is supposed to identify waste. Just think about the amount of money being spent on attacking Trans. Signage requirements, supervisor time, documents. All in the name of hate.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:56 am
It is literally an imagined problem by the GOP just to give them a culture war target. Taken to the extreme, it leads to fascism and the holocaust. The difference between targeting trans kids with bathroom laws or genocide is a question of degree.
We also know that they don’t actually believe these are real problems, because I an 99% certain Caitlin Jenner is using the ladies room at Mar A Lago.
Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:59 am
“Just because folks around the state might not be in an uproar over one individual – it doesn’t mean it’s not happening,” said state representative Adam Niemberg (R, Dieterich, Illinois).
So what is the threshold for whacks like Rep Niemberg? Just askin’ so we get prepared for the next looney tunes blow up
Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:10 pm
Republicans’ incessant need to kick and punch down is one of the myriad reasons why I never vote Republican.
Comment by Northsider Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:15 pm
===“Just because folks around the state might not be in an uproar over one individual – it doesn’t mean it’s not happening,” said state representative Adam Niemberg (R, Dieterich, Illinois).===
Would have been right at home as an “investigator” in Salem, MA in 1692 …
Comment by Anyone Remember Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:17 pm
Yes genius it is happening at a rate of one student athlete per 106,666.666 repeating of course student athletes. Hardly a crisis unless you are an absolutist bully with misplaced priorities. Quite a legacy.
Comment by P. Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:20 pm
The trans issue hurt the Harris campaign. Is defending trans girls born boys playing against girls the hill Democrats want to die on?
Comment by anon2 Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:34 pm
Imagine saying a problem as not a problem, simply because it’s a small problem. Imagine losing a national election for president defending 0.0009 percent of the electorate.
Comment by James Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:35 pm
I don’t understand why xtians insist on forcing their “lifestyle choice” on everyone with this gender thing. Doesn’t Jesus have other things you should be ministering to?
Comment by Jerry Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:36 pm
==Is defending trans girls born boys playing against girls the hill Democrats want to die on?==
If it wasn’t this, it would be something else. That is the point of culture wars. Every time Democrats acquiesce, the Overton Window moves a little bit to the right.
Comment by supplied_demand Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:48 pm
The issue isn’t the numbers. It’s unfair to have boys in girls sports. Someone could lose a scholarship over this. It just takes one male athlete . But, I will grant I’m wrong on this issue. Therefore, there shouldn’t be sex segregated sports teams which would solve the problem.
Comment by Steve Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:50 pm
== The trans issue hurt the Harris campaign. Is defending trans girls born boys playing against girls the hill Democrats want to die on? ==
Name a positive civil rights stance that wasn’t initially a negative at the ballot box. I’ll wait.
Comment by TJ Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:58 pm
===simply because it’s a small problem===
0.0009 percent isn’t small. It’s basically non-existent.
The male death rate for taking aspirin, for instance, is a hundredth of a percent. 0.0009 is 9 ten-thousandths of a percent.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:02 pm
If you want to address “fairness” in HS sports and make the playing field ‘level’:
Perhaps address the gross differences in spending between schools.
Address the differences in facilities between schools.
Limit all schools to the same number of coaches for a sport.
Limit the size of weightrooms.
That will make things more ‘fair.’
Make it so that if you do a ‘club’ sport, you can’t do it within the IHSA.
There is no private coaching during the sports season.
When I officiate, I see huge differences in the resources available and money spent at various schools.
Funny, no one is up in arms about the differences in resources available to some kids vs others.
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:18 pm
My son-in-law is transgender. Fantastic son, husband, father, son-in-law and all-around human being. Now they are worried about the future because of the backlash. We are going backwards. Yay small minded people. The worst.
Comment by James the Intolerant Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:20 pm
You want to know how of a nothing-burger the freak out all is? My kid goes to Downers Grove South High School and I hadn’t even heard about this.
Comment by Nathan H Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:31 pm
Thank you, James.
Comment by Jerry Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:32 pm
People, if you don’t take two seconds to type in a username, you’re gonna get deleted. It doesn’t matter how eloquent or reasoned your post is. It’ll be gone.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:41 pm
==only three people born male asked for and received waivers to compete in girls’ sports last year.==
MAGA response is “that’s three too many.”
Comment by don the legend Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:58 pm
=Someone could lose a scholarship over this.=
The likelihood of that happening is about as close to 0 as you can get.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 2:12 pm
70% support this so it obviously includes a lot of Democrats
The 30 % are a very vocal minority
Are you for banning all girls teams and forcing them to play on the boys teams?
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 2:41 pm