The ban against trans women in sports is unnecessary and hurtful. As a female-identifying individual who is and has been involved in a range of sports, I can say with confidence that I have never felt unsafe or uncomfortable with fellow athletes because of their identity.

Trans athletes deserve to be treated fairly. The opinion piece “Transgender athlete ban reassesses equality for cisgender females” references swimmer Lia Thomas’s NCAA victory in the 500 as evidence of an “unfair advantage.” However, an AFAB (i.e., assigned female at birth) woman named Katie Ledecky, who holds the world record by a groundbreaking 10 seconds, is not mentioned. Things like height, weight, muscle mass, and raw strength can all vary across a population. So, why isn’t there a ban on people over 6 feet tall competing, or people who have longer arms? After all, they have an advantage, right?

The article assumes that there is a gender binary that corresponds to the assigned sex. This idea directly goes against the SPA policy as written in the handbook. Furthermore, the handbook also states that “The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) allows participation for all students consistent with their gender identity in an environment free from discrimination with an equal opportunity for participation in athletics and fine arts. SPA students may participate in a sport according to their gender identity,” and denying a trans woman from playing with other women would be against both the SPA and MSHSL guidelines.

Both women and the trans community have been marginalized and mistreated throughout history, leaving people within these spaces feeling unsafe and unsure. So, in what way is it helpful to pit these groups of people against each other when both groups could heavily benefit from a sense of solidarity and mass community?

In the end, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Still, some are hurtful, and if you are going to be discussing these very nuanced issues, then do in-depth research as well as take the time to examine the human experience of both cis and trans individuals. Not everyone is the same, and that’s ok. If you are truly bothered by this idea, work harder on yourself instead of putting down already vulnerable and hurt communities, especially in this uncertain period of politics with the Trump administration actively going after trans rights.