As I recall, chess desperately wanted to be classed as a sport so it could be included in the Olympics. I believe all Olympic sports are choosing or being forced to deal with the trans issue -- and therefore chess has has to take a position. I'm one who believes the idea of chess as an Olympic sport is nonsense (like synchronized swimming, for example), but there we are. Is it worth pointing out that, strictly, chess has not made a final decision and may yet notice how inappropriate its interim decision is?
Not sure why synchronised swimming is any less worthy than gymnastics, diving, figure skating, or anything else that relies on judging aesthetics as a proxy for athletic prowess.
Just a wee note that I'm uncomfortable with people saying things like 'the trans issue'.
Trans people aren't an issue. They are people who are under attack by a very nasty moral panic which is after their human rights and inclusion and which like many other baseless prejudices before, wraps itself up in bad science and fake and misguided concerns to try and make itself look respectable.
you are correct that trans people are not an 'issue' they are indeed people just like those who are not 'trans'.But if the whole idea of changing gender ,particularly by self identifying as one of another gender from that which one was seen to be when one came into the world , not an 'issue' then why is there so much debate about it ?
you are correct that trans people are not an 'issue' they are indeed people just like those who are not 'trans'.But if the whole idea of changing gender ,particularly by self identifying as one of another gender from that which one was seen to be when one came into the world , not an 'issue' then why is there so much debate about it ?
Because the media decided to make it one. There wasn't a great deal of "debate" when the GRA was passed initially, nor when protections for trans people were included in the Equality Act. Moral panics are created and sustained by the media, they don't arise organically.
It's become an issue for the right wing who see it as a profitable area in which to wage the culture war. It's not politic to attack gays, well, not yet, so a new target has been found. In the US, this has gone so far as parents of trans kids being accused of child abuse. In the UK, the Tories are pondering using it to embarass Starmer, although that will be difficult. As to the wider issue of scapegoats, they are useful in times of political and economic tension, it's "their" fault.
Comments
You will note bridge and chess.
Trans people aren't an issue. They are people who are under attack by a very nasty moral panic which is after their human rights and inclusion and which like many other baseless prejudices before, wraps itself up in bad science and fake and misguided concerns to try and make itself look respectable.
Because the media decided to make it one. There wasn't a great deal of "debate" when the GRA was passed initially, nor when protections for trans people were included in the Equality Act. Moral panics are created and sustained by the media, they don't arise organically.
'issue'.