I have practiced medicine for over half a century after medical school. My medical career has given me the opportunity to see men and women and their athletic capabilities. It is just plain obvious that men are stronger than women. Men can run faster, jump higher, throw farther, hit harder, and outperform women in competitive sports. There is no question about that! Men have stronger bones and, on average, bigger muscles than women. That is just an obvious fact, not up for discussion. Disagreeing with that ignores the facts and observations. Despite the fact that you cut off the penis of a biological man and feed him estrogen, it does not decrease his muscle mass sufficiently to equal that of a biological female. It doesn’t take a genius to see that. It is obvious. The argument is seriously flawed, as all you need to do is observe! If you can see, you can judge. To have women/ girls compete with men/boys is just biologically wrong. Not only wrong but dangerous. Having a volleyball game between boys and girls is patently unfair.

Having been a physician for over 50 years has given me some observational skills that non-physicians do not have. A genetically male player has a more powerful spike to get the ball into the opponent’s court than a genetically female player. Allowing males to play against females invites more injuries regardless of the sport. I have no problem with female chess players playing against male chess players, but when it comes to physical sports, it is ridiculous to allow that competition to take place, because it just is not fair.

Anatomy and DNA are not negotiable. We are not yet able to manipulate those factors to change nature, and I doubt we ever will. You can’t fool Mother Nature.

To have locker rooms that permit both genetic sexes to mingle is inviting sexual harassment and aiding and abetting potential criminal acts to take place. Girls should not use boys’ bathrooms, and vice versa.  Sex needs to be defined by XX and XY genetics and not whether you have breasts or a penis. Having a penectomy does not make you female.

I do not think that children should have the right to choose. They are not mature enough; besides, people change their minds. Although an adult should have that right, in physical competition DNA overrules appearance because DNA directs hormonal, skeletal, and muscular development; even with some modification, it still isn’t enough to make competition fair. Additionally, hormonal use of progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone has potentially dangerous side effects that cause changes in lipids in the blood, which can increase cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, cardiac rhythm changes, and growth of the heart muscle mass (cardiac hypertrophy), which has been the cause of sudden death in athletes who use hormones.   Even some malignancies such as prostate cancer and certain liver tumors can develop from hormone use.

Some individuals are born with both male and female characteristics. These individuals need the help of surgical and hormonal support to reach the best possible results and live as complete a life as possible. This is entirely different than changing one’s sexuality. It takes a great deal of testing, forethought, and skill.

This discussion needs to be taken out of politics. Politicians do not have the qualifications to understand the issues. It is a matter for medical science! The Olympic Committee has finally come out with an absolute ban on transgender individuals competing in women’s events. Competing women must take a one-time genetic test that shows the absence of the SRY gene found on the Y chromosome, although transgender individuals may compete in men’s events or events that do not classify athletes by gender, such as equestrian events.

Gender dysphoria used to be a rare condition, but it has become more common. Is that a fad, or is it real? Up to 4% of individuals who have undergone irreversible surgery regret their decision! And 8% to 13% detransition at some point in their life.