https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-news-swimming-news-strip-michael-phelps-of-his-medals-fan-believes-legendary-swimmer-had-the-same-biological-advantage-as-lia-thomas-calls-it-unfair/I've read so many articles trying to justify Lia Thomas's involvement in women's swimming that have made arguments like this. Another one mischaracterized the argument against it by erroneously pointing out that the entire controversy is simply over the fact that she's, like, just really, really good.
No!
I'm sorry. They can have their pronouns, I have no problem with that. They can also use whatever bathroom they want as far as I'm concerned. I have no problem with trans people. I'm a member of the LGBTQ+ community myself and want nothing more than for everyone to be accepted and to feel comfortable with who they are. It almost makes me feel guilty for actually having my own opinion on this issue.
This isn't as black and white as all that.
Lia Thomas doesn't have the same biological advantage that Michael Phelps did. When she swam as a man, she was mediocre. When she swam as a woman, she was number 1. The issue is not that she's "too good". The issue is that we know where she landed competitively as a man, and she SUCKED. So you really can't convince me that the biological differences aren't as great as I'm making them out to be. In Lia Thomas we have solid empirical evidence that a trans athlete ranks much, much higher as a woman than as a man. In her case, the difference is transparently obvious. And I think that, more than anything else, is why she's been such a poster child for those who are against it.
If the biological differences were really so miniscule, all team sports would be coed. Where are all the trans football players, anyway? How many female to male trans people are competing on men's teams?
Sorry, these arguments don't fly.