Over the past several years, the issue of transgender women competing in women’s sports has become one of the hottest debates in the entire country and it’s only heated up as we near election season. And this week, one sports legend weighed in on the debate.
Earlier this week, tennis legend Chris Evert came to the defense of fellow tennis legend Martina Navratilova, who has recently taken some criticism for speaking out against transgender women competing in women’s sports. Evert made it clear that she also does not support transgender women in women’s sports, saying “Science doesn’t lie.”
“We have had many discussions about the unfairness [of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports], especially transitioning after a male goes through puberty,” Evert said during a conversation with OutKick via text message.
“The physical advantages are undeniable. Science doesn’t lie. Bottom line: everyone is entitled to their opinion and shouldn’t be attacked because of it.”
Evert’s comments come after a speech from Navratilova in which she spoke on some of the criticism and hate she has received as a result of her stance against transgender women in sports.
“I personally have never been called worse names than I have been called this last few years,” Navratilova said. “’Oh, you are a lesbian.’ That was the worst I got [in the 1980s]… Now, it’s ‘oh, you’re a homophobe.’ Go figure. I’ve been out since ’81. Yeah, I’m a homophobe.
“’You’re a bigot. You’re a transphobe. You’re a Nazi. You’re a fascist. You’re a communist. Anything and everything in between. And this is coming from the left. I am the left. My people are turning on me, and they’re turning on us, women who speak up for women’s sex-based rights.”
Evert won 18 tennis majors throughout her storied career and is one of the most dominant and accomplished women to ever play the game. And now, it seems like she is willing to use her platform to speak out against transgender women competing in women’s sports.
[OutKick]
