During her show on Sunday, she addressed the criticism that Democrats were perceived as being too extreme on Transgender issues, which had an impact on their election night defeat.
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), for instance, publicly opposed the idea of boys competing against girls following the election. However, he has been facing criticism from within his own party. Jen Psaki, in particular, aimed Moulton during her appearance on Sunday, highlighting her disapproval.
She mentioned ads that portrayed a widespread dominance by boys in girls’ sports.
According to her, reflection is beneficial, but she argues that it would only be worthy of debate if it were a prevalent issue in schools nationwide. She points out that there are very few instances of transgender girls participating in youth sports, and even in those cases, there is no evidence suggesting that these children pose a threat to safety or fairness.
Male athletes competing against females pose a dual threat to safety and fairness. Take, for instance, the case of Payton McNabb, a high school volleyball player who suffered paralysis when a male opponent forcefully spiked the ball into her head.
Incidents like these highlight the potential dangers of allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports. Furthermore, there have been instances of injuries caused by transgender basketball players in high school games, as witnessed in Vermont and Massachusetts. These incidents raise concerns about the physical well-being of female athletes and the fairness of competition in such scenarios.
Female athletes do not face harm in all sports, but the issue of fairness still remains. Take the case of Sadie Schreiner, a runner from Rochester Institute of Technology who competes against women despite being a biological male. Although Schreiner does not win every race, it is worth noting that in May, they secured first place in four different races. Just as baseball players who take steroids do not hit home runs every time, this example highlights the broader concern surrounding an unfair advantage.
Schreiner emerged as the champion in the 200-meter dash during the Liberty League Outdoor Track and Field Championships, clocking an impressive time of 24.14 seconds. However, it is worth noting that if Schreiner had competed against men, this time would not have been enough to secure a spot in the championship race.
Even if we grant Psaki’s premise that it is not occurring “at thousands of schools,” it doesn’t mean that legal protections for girls’ sports should be dismissed. Policymakers need to address this issue proactively before it becomes more widespread. Waiting for numerous girls to endure serious injuries from male athletes in sports like volleyball before taking action is not a reasonable approach.
The issue of fairness would remain a concern even if there were no injuries resulting from male athletes competing against females. On average, men possess greater strength and speed than women, giving them an inherent advantage in nearly every sport. The purpose of segregating sports by gender is to provide each sex with an opportunity to compete against individuals who are, on average, of similar size. This principle is comparable to high schoolers not typically competing against third graders, even within the same sex.
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As an accomplished political communicator, Psaki demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand. In fact, she noted the ineffectiveness of “over-listening” to “Never Trumpers” as a strategy for Democrats after the election. Rather, she emphasized the importance of heeding the concerns of those who have chosen to leave the Democratic Party.
Listening to voices like Moulton’s and other Democrats who caution against embracing transgender athletes and instead prioritizing the protection of female athletes would be advantageous. It is important to consider the concerns that transgender competitors, who may be physically stronger, can potentially harm and even usurp medals from their female counterparts.
Matt Lamb is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. He brings his expertise as an associate editor for the College Fix, and has previously worked for Students for Life of America and Turning Point USA.