The issue continues to be the same today as I stated it was last year: it's about a lack of conclusive science, rather than a lack of equality and rights.
https://www.si.com/olympics/2022/03/23/transgender-athletes-testosterone-policies-ioc-framework
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Absolutely heartbreaking - a wasteful, shameful loss of life. It's time to end this bloodshed already. I, for one, would like to see the leadership of my country at the negotiating table to serve as a broker of peace between Ukraine and Russia. #EndTheWar #PrayForUkraine
What many people don't know is that filming in public spaces is a protected first amendment right in the United States. That includes public offices (in public areas), lobbies, in and around government buildings, etc. This ALSO includes public sector employees during the due course of their duties!
The behavior of one of the Las Vegas DMV employees, as well as some of the clients, was absolutely appalling. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time that I've observed U.S. public sector employees behaving poorly in public. The U.S. has some of the most well paid (exceptionally well if you include government health insurance plans, pensions, perks, etc.) public sector employees in the world - on both the State and Federal levels. In turn, I believe that public sector employees should be held to a higher standard of code and honor than us private sector, rank and file folks - they are truly "servants of the people!" The video, for me, at least ended on a positive ending. "Lisa," the supervisor at the Las Vegas DMV, has a nice and cordial chat with Jason before he leaves. I hope that the worker who was out of line is not relieved, but rather receives remedial training from the supervisor on shift. All in all, another great "first amendment audit" from Jason and his son. As a civil rights attorney - I approve of all stress tests of our first amendment rights! I've been consistent on this issue since 1980, when I sued the USOC for grounding U.S. athletes due to the Moscow Games boycott, spearheaded by President Jimmy Carter. In 1980 we could have showed up, as Americans, and beaten the Soviets on their own turf - which would be more powerful and meaningful than following a failed political stunt that had zero positive gains for the U.S. or its athletes.
More to the point - politics almost always ruins sports, especially the Olympic Games. The Games are to be a fair and even field for competition, for all of the peoples of the world to set aside their differences and compete together in unity. If athletes - Russians included - wish to #PrayForUkraine, that's not political. Wishing for an end to this devastating conflict and calling for peace - this is not political. But joining a political rally designed to highlight the actions of the Russian government - that is definitely political. I would advise all athletes to keep their politics to themselves and focus on using their platforms to aid and help the greater causes of unity, peace, and cooperation among all of the peoples of the world. ARTICLE: https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2022/03/23/russia-olympic-athletes-vladimir-putin-rally/ Do we need a "Trans" Olympics? Ever since I joined the IOC nearly 35 years ago, the Games have always been upheld as a place for fair and even competition amongst all of the different peoples and nations of the world.
We need a scientifically based methodology to determine how far the benefits of testosterone - and male growth from puberty - can be acceptable when trans athletes compete outside of their birth gender. The ongoing Lia Thomas issue is less about trans/LGBT rights, and moreso about keeping sporting events, for both men and women, as fair and as even as we can get. ARTICLE: https://unherd.com/2022/03/do-we-need-a-trans-olympics/ One of my favorite civil rights YouTube channels strikes again: Amagansett Press! Jason from AP shows exactly how an interaction between citizens and police should go: a courteous and service minded attitude from the officers, and respect back in kind from the citizen.
Additionally, Utah is just always so beautiful. I am always breathless when seeing those skies, wide roads, and mountain backdrops. I look forward to visiting St. George and Salt Lake City once again later this year. LINK FOR YOUR REFERENCE: https://youtu.be/qsZS8guMgdA #PrayingForUkraine and I'm hoping for a peaceful resolution of this painful conflict between two neighbors. My thoughts and prayers go out to my sports colleagues and friends in Ukraine, as well as to the Ukrainian people as a whole. I lastly send my wishes and hope to those living in the entire region, that they also will stay safe and secure as this terrible scenario is hopefully brought to a close.
-Anita Anita discusses issues of the Olympic Games with Ms. Jing Cheng, hosting the Global Governance Perspective: a podcast presented by an English language Asian think-tank, the Global Governance Institution. Topics included are the issues of the new COVID-19 "OMICRON" variant and its threat to the Beijing Games, plus the ongoing and pertinent subject of boycotting the Olympic Games for political concerns. WATCH THE FULL TALK: https://youtu.be/tQ9OdtVf_6w Join Anita as she speaks to self development maestro, lawyer, entrepreneur, and South Florida real estate mogul, Mr. Moshe Popack on his podcast: the Common Denominator. In this educational and reflective interview, Anita shares her history and life as an Olympian - then discusses the hot topic of Olympic Boycotts, how host countries are selected for the Games, and how the U.S. will wrap up the 2022 Beijing Games. LINK: https://youtu.be/WqohkfwfQ9Q Anita DeFrantz: "In 1980, my team and I missed the Moscow Olympics due to a boycott by the Carter administration. At that time, my team members and I were already in uniform and ready to go, but suddenly we were told that we had nowhere to go because the government made the decision not to participate on our behalf. At a meeting at the time, I asked the U.S. military: "Can our non-competition save even one person's life?" The other party pondered for a moment and gave a negative answer." LINK: https://bit.ly/3GhytCi
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April 2022
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