I guess my basic position is I am fine addressing folks with kindness and dignity in the way they'd like to be addressed, and to treat them with as much dignity as I hope to be treated. I had a trans man work for me for over a year, and we had a good relationship. I referred to him as him in the workplace etc. But there was nothing about that work environment that had any sex or gender segregation outside of the restrooms, but even those were single stall so I never even bothered to notice which restroom anyone used- most people just used the one that was unlocked!
However, I do think segregation of sexes is a communal good for our society, and the reason for that isn't for men, but for women. Places of vulnerability (prisons, restrooms, changing rooms, sleepover events for kids, dorms, etc.) should be free of men for women and girls. Men are pretty rough. I had a situation at a job that I just left in December where a man entered the building and headed straight for the women's room. When stopped by security he said "I'm a woman". This was a person whom we had never seen and looked like a man in all aspects. I don't think its unreasonable to view that as a threat, or at the very least to guide them to a single stall bathroom elsewhere in the building. In the past two years I dealt with several abusive marriage situations- every single one the man was the threat, men frankly should be viewed as untrustworthy to be around women in vulnerable spaces! This was a mainstream position until very recently.
So as to the question of sports, yeah, I personally put it in a category of a place of vulnerability for women. I get it! Tons of women can kick my ass in tons of sports! I think its ok to have places that are just for girls, and athletics is one of them. I mean, why do we segregate athletics by sex and gender? We don't segregate English class or the marching band. My daughter's soccer team and basketball team has tons of pride in their femininity. You want me to call you she/her, fine, but that doesn't make you a girl. Again, until recently, this was a very mainstream view.
I mean the bigger question in all of this of course is "are trans women women?" I'm a pretty firm no on that, so while you can have a lot of the societal and social aspects of womanhood, I'm sorry, there are some things that aren't for you. Honestly many of us will probably always disagree on that. I'm ok with not agreeing here.
Can ask something of those who disagree? Would you consider my position isn't rooted in bigotry but rooted in kindness towards girls? I tell my daughters being a girl is awesome, its one of the most special things there is.
I can consider and acknowledge MIR or Mich's position is rooted in wanting to be gentle towards trans folks, even if disagree with the conclusion.
An unfortunate aspect of this entire argument is that it's dominated online by Clay Travis/Matt Walsh/Fox News types and is very much driven by fear. That's very annoying and unhelpful.
Anyway- I probably didn't answer MIR or Michigancat's questions as well as I could've- but that's all I got for now.
