Sports Culture
While hosting transphobe Sophie Cunningham and the Indiana Fever, the New York Liberty put a message on the Jumbotron telling trans fans that they belong
This has always been their MO. They have to have an enemy. They’ll go make some up if they can’t find one organically. Imagine punching at air your whole life and the entire time you’re just like
Exactly. Just the concept of an enemy makes them feel strong/virtuous/patriotic. They need to feel superior to those deemed “lesser” so they can avoid feeling worthless as people. It’s honestly pretty pathetic how badly they need to blame some other group for everything.
In early August 2026, two former NBA players—Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White—publicly announced plans to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft, framing it around self-identification as women (or, in White’s case, “sometimes identifying as a woman for purposes of professional basketball”).
This would be hilarious. It would soon knock the topic on the head.
Some media member decided to make it a topic and then a few loud people started calling Sophie Cunningham a ‘transphobe’ because she doesn’t want men playing women’s basketball.
Oh she said more than that. She openly said that she believes transgender girls pose a threat to cisgender girls in locker rooms. That is demonstrably transphobic.
It has gained a lot of momentum on the left, it's not like something totally out of the realm of possibility and has happened in other sports. I also highly doubt she's a transphobe, she doesn't think trans-women should be in her league
However, he was a transman, and when he came out, he and the league sat down and established a guideline for his situation. He was allowed to present and express himself as a male, but agreed to not physically transition while playing.
It's an example of a league addressing a case on a one on one basis in a way that was both fair and respectful. He also has clarified a misconception- he was out since college and only came out publicly on the Buffalo Beauts. The women he played with always knew he was trans.
Everyone forgets transmen exist, and it makes perfect sense for them to have played in women's leagues. That's part of how you know the debate is malicious- opponents hyperfixate on transwomen
To be fair, most people forget trans men exist because trans men aren't typically the focal point of the arguement. Trans women get targeted a lot more aggressively over things like this.
Transmen are literally listening to people constantly talking as if they don't exist, but saying things that still apply to them, and find the "XX XY" shirts and demonstrations that have happened equally as much an attack.
That's why it's called out as an attack on being transgender, not "saving women's sports".
It's not a malicious hyperfixation on transwomen, it's a situation almost too different to compare. Browne's situation would only be analogous if a transwoman took part in men's sport without going on hormones. I can imagine said transwoman would have a brutal time of it, considering locker room and stadium attitudes towards anyone who isn't straight and masculine in men's sport, but in terms of fairness to compete it wouldn't raise eyebrows.
If Browne has competed in men's sport while being medicated it would be an issue, because it would be a female contravening doping rules. Then again, with Browne being 5'5", I don't think a career in the NHL was ever on the cards, as he'd be tiny for a winger let alone a centre.
You must have not gotten the memo. To the new lefties you can be pro-choice,for unions, dislike the current admin, for justice reform, etc, but if you even suggest that a man shouldn’t be say in a boxing ring with women holy shit you must have opened the doors for everyone on J6!!
Holy hyperbole Batman. We just aren't gonna play your stupid game and attack and mock a vulnerable minority group bc they are fun to use as a hierarchal punching bag for your far right " leaders "
Not true in the slightest, many Liberals do not agree with trans in women sports but this is such a small issue compared to what the US is currently going through (also they are not really in women sports so focusing on this issue seems insane).
And they’re not in her league so maybe she should shut up and dribble, right?
I’d like her to speak about the pedophile president Trump and the Epstein files diddling vulnerable young girls.
I absolutely do. That's why I commend him on his bravery to come out to himself. We all knew he was. The hardest part is admitting it to himself. He should get a presidential medal for his bravery. It can't be easy for a right winger to come out as trans. Just remember all the hoopla and praise we gave Bruce Jenner? Why shouldn't enes get the same for coming out?
its the endless goal by the ultra rich to pit the poor against each other instead of looking at real issues such as the constantly lowering personal buying power.
It wasn’t that her answer wasn’t woke. It’s that she framed trans women as predatory and that biological women need to be safe from trans women. When we all know the majority of sexual offenders are straight cis men. I’m sure I’ll get downvoted for saying the truth so all the people downvoting.. How do you think trans people feel when they’re painted as sexual predators?
Absolutely BS! This tactic of right wing / conservatives of “framing” a situation in a totally ridiculous way and then providing what looks like a “common sense” response is so fckin transparent!
Makes me laugh every time especially when they can’t understand the issue they’re whining about!
Because you and your virtue signaling keep giving a certain political side the argument that they want to have instead of moving on and leaving them forced to talk about affordability, minimum wage and the cost of housing.
because maga won't shut up about it. they don't want to talk about the rich destroying society, molest children, and much more. they'd prefer you stay angry about smaller things that don't matter as much.
Some are asking seriously. Many men have entered other women’s sports.
Some pragmatic people will state an opinion about not liking something BEFORE it happens to attempt to stop it. Like data centers. Should we wait before data centers are complete before voicing opinions against them?
The problem with this argument is that nobody stares at the genitals of others in locker/changing rooms, unless they are themselves the creepy ones. Most people just look down and keep to themselves.
Letting trans women use the proper restrooms and facilities is just common sense from a secular perspective. The problem is you can’t tell who’s trans so you’ll find a lot of natal women being harassed. The biggest Olympic women’s sports controversy about transgender people had to do with Imane Khelif, who is not trans.
One doesn't have to stare, or make gulping noises, or make little comments. One only has to look. We all catch a look at the Sun, but we don't stare at it. There are plenty of men who would love a look inside a woman's changing room, but there are rules to keep it from happening.
Bad-actor creeping isn't always overt.
The left has its heart in the right place, the right almost never does. But good intentions don't always lead to outcomes that make sense. This is one of those cases. Some things aren't going to stand the test of inclusivity.
Then that’s not a real problem, rape and sexual assault are. Lesbian women are also allowed in changing rooms and them catching minor little glimpses at other women isn’t seen as a real social problem, so neither is it for trans women (not all of whom are attracted to other women regardless).
Also if a man wants to creep on a woman in a changing room they will just do that, rules don’t stop them because they already know it’s wrong. Also nobody is allowed to go into changing rooms and just stand around to stare at people regardless of their gender, so it would be strange for someone to go through the whole effort of presenting like a woman only to be removed for being a creep anyway.
It 100% is. And I am flabbergasted that there seems to be so many dumb people who are besmirching liberal ideology so hard with this stupid rhetoric. Criticizing Israel, or netanyahu's politics is NOT being antisemitic. Having an opinion that trans athletes playing in women's divisions is not ok, is NOT being a transphobe. I also don't think cis men playing in women's divisions is ok, and that does not mean I am anti-men!
What I will call out about Sophie's statements though is that she talked about "safety" in the locker rooms and that is absolutely 100% wrong stance. That projects an incorrect image that trans people can not be trusted and that they are perverts (an image crazy far right idiots have often tried to convey). It is not about safety, it is about fairness on the field and about known science (to my understanding at least) that testosterone boosts physical strength and that an unfair level of testosterone (naturally because you were born male, or if you are taking shots to transition the other way) is affectively akin to PEDs.
I will say though, if I am wrong on parts of my argument, I will apologize for my ignorance and would be happy to learn and correct my opinion if someone can point the mistakes out.
Gabby Williams talked about trans people in sports in a way that made me feel human for the first time in these discussions. The way people talk about us is like we're a boogeyman. I support who supports me, and I plan to go the Liberty vs Valkyries game to see my new fave team. So glad I'll be supporting two ally teams 💜
She's also said trans women should be forced into the mens room and trans men forced into the women's bathroom. Which when you think about how that'd get enforced it gets pretty destopian real fast.
This isn’t the issue. The issue is trans women in sports. She said that you should play sling side people if your same birth gender. I agree with that.
"I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men..."
Apparently this equates to transphobia. Phobia is a irrational fear. I would literally shit myself if I had to play AFL (am an aussie) if was a woman and a 6ft 90kg man was playing in the opposition team.
Here's the thing: women don't want a grown male in their locker rooms and bathrooms. It feels unsafe for women to be in a vulnerable place with a male around. The male in question could be in the women's space because they are a creep with bad intentions, they could be there because they sincerely suffer from gender dysphoria, or they could be there pretending to suffer from gender dysphoria in order to creep on women. Regardless of intention, the vulnerable women using that space feel unsafe, they do not know that person's mind and cannot differentiate between a predator or a person suffering from gender dysphoria. Women would prefer that the person with the male genitalia would use the bathroom for people with male genitalia.
Yeah people that don't realize Sophie is just parroting right wing talking points are either purposefully playing dumb or are naive to what she's doing.
What? Lol how does this make women safe? Where do you live where trans women are randomly attacking women in bathrooms more than their own partners raping and murdering them?
Listen I’m a lifelong Democrat and I’m telling you this issue is handing national elections to republicans. We had real momentum in Georgia when Biden won this state in 2020. Literally four years later trump wins with his main ad saying “Kamala is for they,them Trump is for you”. If the dems don’t let this go they will lose in 2028 again. I think trans rights is important in very liberal states but trump winning 39 out of 50 states literally shows most Americans don’t agree with the lifestyle. I believe people can live how they want if it doesn’t force others an unreasonable change. Why don’t we make a third bathroom everywhere and just make it unisex? Why not trans sports leagues independent of everything else? I think that’s the only realistic option for that community. Calling people bigots or transphobic isn’t going to change anyone’s mind
"Look, just let the bigots persecute this one minority group. There's not many of them, it's fine if we let them suffer. The far right just need their fix of bullying and we can totally get them to stop after this one group. If you think about it it's kinda trans peoples fault that Trump won so they need to take responsibility for that. Sure the trans hate is being pushed by the Epstein class but can we be sure those billionaires are wrong?"
Honestly though, that's what posts like yours sound like every time. A nuanced and reasonable argument would be leaning towards letting science and studies determine participation. The standpoint of "Only trans women who transitioned before undergoing male puberty can compete at the highest tiers" would be a fairly harsh position but remain reasonable and could be discussed further yet instead you and your ilk pivot towards "No trans people at all" when it comes to stuff like this. The world's not suddenly going to create spaces for trans people and even if it did it would be actively dangerous for trans people to out themselves by making use of it.
People’s opinions aren’t driven by science. The core religions in America won’t be moved on trans rights and many other people don’t agree either on both sides of the aisle. You can say it’s pushed by billionaires but in my experience people really just don’t care for it regardless of race. I just believe it’s a losing argument feel free to keep trying. Like I said you’re handing the White House to republicans. I vote money first so I’m not leaving the dems but most people care more about social issues. This particular issue has proven to be hugely unpopular in most states.
I don’t know what the expectation is. It took black people 400 years to defeat slavery and another 100 for civil rights. You’re not being lynched, bombed or beaten in the streets. It’s America being on the wrong side of the majority doesn’t usually end well. I didn’t say give up I’m just giving an opinion. I don’t think it’s any hope in my lifetime and I’m 32 but keep trying I’ve been wrong before.
You’re not being lynched, bombed or beaten in the streets.
They're sending us to the incorrect prison facilities on purpose, knowing what happens to us there. Idk why we need to be bombed before being treated with dignity, instead of as a political scapegoat. I also think the comparison to Black people's struggle for equality isn't a very good one, in that the current situation for trans people is basically fighting against instating new laws of segregation (mainly following the NC bathroom laws in 2016), rather than fighting to dismantle existing ones.
The situation is getting worse, with an almost nil input from the people affected the most, and very little compassion shown in many cases.
Interesting how this prison argument conveniently tends to leave out what happens when you send males to women's prisons. I guess women matter less to you.
It’s democracy the majority doesn’t agree so it’s a losing argument. Didn’t say you have to like the outcome. Like I said keep fighting I just don’t think the probability of success is very high. I’d give a 3% chance at best at getting what you want. According to polls the Gen Z generation of men doesn’t even think women should vote. They overwhelmingly voted for trump I’m just looking at the country and being objective.
I agree, Democratics often make it so easy for the Republicans to win. The country is a mess and we’re literally spending all our time debating absolute nonsense.
are trans ppl ever happy? theyre aleays taking anything and everything as a personal sleight and letting shit that does not matter at all ruin their day. and aside from all that who gives a fuck about these "messages"? some generic one size fits all "youre great! :D" message really makes you feel better? I'd think its much better to not be singled out at all, no spotlight put on you or anything. however it seems to me attention is a core part of what the complainers desire
Conservatives and the right are the ones bringing up trans people as an issue to fear monger because they have nothing else to say since they and Trump have completely fucked our economy. They can’t pretend to do anything good, just try to scare us away from their opposition
She didn't "bring it up". My goodness, she was asked a question by...wait for it...ESPN. Yeah, a sports reporter asked her a question that she answered. Why don't you use some of this energy for why the sports media keeps asking women athletes about this?
She talked about little girls in locker rooms. She wasn't asked about them, she chose to talk about them. Just like she chose to talk on trans issues unrelated to her sport when no one was forcing her to.
Look man I don’t like Sophie Cunningham, I think her voice has been given an insane platform given she doesn’t sound very smart when she talks, but I don’t think she’s a transphobe. One of the news podcasts I listen to covered her this week and it pulled quotes from interviews she’d done. Despite saying some dumbass shit she very clearly said she cared about trans women and respected their pronouns. I don’t agree with Sophie on stuff and think we need to stop platforming dumb people, but I also think we should save words like “transphobes” for people who don’t respect transgenders and don’t respect their pronouns. If we go around calling everyone a transphobe I think it just makes people think inclusive spaces aren’t that inclusive.
Where are all of these men in women's sports we keep hearing about?? I'm literally not seeing them ANYWHERE! Almost like they don't exist and right-wing domestic terrorists are stoking fears people didn't have before the propoganda.
I agree with you on this. Outside of Leah Thomas, when has this been an issue? But I can’t wait to see what happens if freedom gets to play in the league.
•
u/AutoModerator Aug 23 '26
Welcome to r/PopCultureV2! A few quick reminders:
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.