1. Fair play starts with biology, not identity
The detrans women who actually trained and competed before and after testosterone-driven puberty say the gap is real. One former martial artist explains that once male puberty happens “women can compete against men four weight-classes lighter” and even then the match is lopsided, so she simply walked away from competition rather than enter the women’s division with residual advantage. “I chose not to do competition, but I think this system isn’t right.” – CurledUpWallStaring source [citation:b245d45c-ca0e-485f-b045-3605789cf194] Their message: sport is measured in lungs, limbs and leverage, not in feelings, and respecting that fact protects every athlete’s right to a meaningful contest.

2. Women’s sport was fought for and still needs defending
These women remind us that female-only leagues exist because, for most of history, girls were simply barred from the starting line. The spaces were carved out by generations who demanded the chance to “dream of having a place to show their outstanding capabilities.” “It was fought for and earned. It was not a consolation prize.” – vsapieldepapel source [citation:a79abf89-5367-4d67-9028-132eed19de44] Letting any athlete who went through male puberty claim those places, they say, rolls back that victory and tells today’s girls their limits don’t matter.

3. Safety and dignity matter as much as medals
Several describe the fear of being “pressured into competing with people they are uncomfortable with or will physically never be able to win against.” “It is dangerous and could be fatal for an amab person to compete in contact sports with afab people… afab women deserve to have teams and spaces that are just for them.” – KindAddition source [citation:56d1f744-8192-4f6c-8a06-5d506e5335f6] Feeling safe in your own category, they argue, is part of sport’s mental-health benefit; removing it harms both bodies and morale.

4. A third, open category can keep everyone in the game
No one wants blanket bans; they want options. The most popular proposal is a protected female division plus an “open” or “mixed” field where anyone—trans, intersex, male—can race, lift or spar under adjusted rules (handicaps, weight classes, etc.). Mid-pack fun-runs? Great. Olympic podium spots? Not yet. “If you’re knocking medal contenders out of position… we better be a lot more sure about that than we are right now.” – cranberry_snacks source [citation:216bf640-9e4a-4aa1-8363-9f6418a292dc] This keeps competition alive while data—and bodies—catch up.

5. Personal ethics can guide you while the rules evolve
Until structures change, some detrans athletes simply stepped back, unwilling to use any leftover advantage against women who “trained clean.” “If you knew in your heart that you maintained an unfair advantage… would your moral values dictate you to step back because you knew it would be cheating?” – Liquid_Fire__ source [citation:0aafacc4-de12-4c03-8949-52e2ec962836] Their choice shows that listening to conscience, seeking coaching support, and finding non-competitive ways to enjoy movement can protect both integrity and mental health.

You can love sport, question gender expectations, and still honor the bodily reality that makes fair competition possible. Whether you keep playing for fun, advocate for an open category, or cheer from the sidelines, your value is not measured by a medal table but by the honesty and kindness you bring to the arena—and to yourself.