Kirk Herbstreit is very careful with is words, and he has decided to make a statement when it comes to transgender athletes. The debate over transgender athletes competing in sports has become a hot topic the past few years, with stories like Lia Thomas competing and winning in the NCAA Women’s swimming championships and, more recently, the two boxers who won silver and gold in the Olympics.
The debate of whether or not transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in sports with the gender they identify as is one where very few don’t have a strong opinion. Supporters of it claim that if a transgender woman identifies as a woman, they shouldn’t be forced to compete with men. Those against it point to anatomy and muscle development that even puberty blockers don’t eliminate completely.
Most celebrities have remained silent on the issue or sided with allowing it, as most Hollywood actors side more liberally. Still, Kirk Herbstreit took a stand against it, becoming one of the biggest names and celebrities to openly oppose it.
Transgender Women Competing in Women’s Sports Has Become More Common
Whether it is because it is now in the news or whether it is because it is happening more now, there have been more cases of transgenders competing in women’s sports than ever before. While many of these athletes don’t end up winning or getting any national news, there has been an uptick in cases where this is happening.
It has gotten to the point where it does feel like it needs to be addressed more seriously. Either people need to come together and accept that a transgender woman competing in women’s sports is just like every other woman, or people need to come together and admit that even with early transitioning, there are too many cases of transgenders dominating women’s sports, sometimes at the level of it not even being competitive.
Organizations such as the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and NCAA have tried to implement some guidelines and rules. However, there is still plenty of debate of when (if at all) a transitioning person is considered at the same level as the average athlete of the opposite sex.
Kirk Herbstreit Ways In With Strong, Direct Statement
While doing an interview with Outkicks “Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich” Herbstreit shared the following about the issue:
“I’m done giving any s—s at all about any of it. It’s almost like there are two different sets of rules, and if you have a view that’s a little more traditional, or I’m a Christian guy, it’s like there is a different set of rules for that viewpoint,” he explained. “It’s hard to just turn the other cheek time after time after time.
“So, yeah, I didn’t really care, and I don’t care at all. Which is a good thing, I think it’s good and healthy to get to that place compared to, ‘Oh gosh, I don’t want to get canceled. I don’t want to get people upset.’ I don’t give a s—. I’m just going to say certain things. My problem is I have a temper, and so if I get to that point, if that fuse gets lit, I let it go, and then I’ll explode and say something. That I have to be careful of.
“I think I have been biting my tongue on a lot of topics for three years. I sent a tweet out – I get pretty quiet in the offseason – I sent a tweet out about something. It might have been about college football coming up, and I’ve gotten into a habit of not scrolling and looking at the comments because it’s obviously pretty bad. I happened to see somebody say what he said. I think he said, ‘Should men be able to play in women’s sports?’ and I just was like, I’m just going to give a quick answer: ‘Ridiculous question, of course not.’”
Herbstreit, who works for ESPN, which is often viewed as a moderate-left organization, has not made any comments or released any statement on Herbstreit’s message. Co-host Sam Ponder has also come out against transgenders competing in women’s sports.
ENOUGH is what all of us should be saying!! Proud of this woman 👏🏼💪🏼 https://t.co/C23l9Sn2js
— Samantha Steele Ponder (@samponder) August 1, 2024
Of course not. Ridiculous question https://t.co/SpwZ07zewv
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) August 6, 2024
