White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was critical of EWTN White House correspondent Owen Jensen’s framing of a question on Tuesday. Jensen had asked if the White House had a message for the parents of female athletes concerned about competing against biologically stronger males.
Jean-Pierre began by saying that the issue was complicated, before accusing Jensen of implying that transgender kids were “dangerous”. Jensen began to defend himself, but Jean-Pierre quickly cut him off, saying that it was “irresponsible” to suggest that trans kids were dangerous. She then referred him to the Department of Education for further queries.
With multiple reports of female athletes getting injured after competing with males in the same sports, several female athletes have come out in support of a Republican-led bill which wants to amend Title IX to prevent such competition. Perhaps the best known example was Lia Thomas, a biological male who identified as a woman, who won a 500-yard freestyle event at the 2022 NCAA Women’s Championships by a substantial margin.
Unfortunately, the reports of injury don’t stop there. In April 2022, a North Carolina high school volleyball player reported a long-term concussion and neck injury, as a result of a male athlete spiking the ball and hitting her in the face. Similarly, in the same month, three players on a high school rugby team were injured after being slammed by a male competitor.
Only days later, the NCAA Board of Governors voted to allow transgender athletes to compete in the sport consistent with their stated gender identity. One of the board’s several resolutions stated that athletes should not face discrimination based on their own gender identity, an opinion supported by President Biden.
Given the complicated nature of this debate, it’s hoped that the Department of Education will have enough time to see reason and take in a little bit of common sense if this bill is passed into law.
Until then, the female athletes in question may continue to face certain risks and uncertainty when competing against male athletes.