He's (almost) all boy but will wrestle girls for a state title. Is that right?

[TexasTowelie]

Starting Friday morning inside a fieldhouse northwest of Houston, wrestler Mack Beggs of Euless Trinity High School will begin his pursuit of a girls state championship in the 110-pound weight class.

If reading that sentence feels like a half-nelson gripping your eyeballs, don’t worry, you read it correctly: Beggs will indeed begin his pursuit of a girls state title. He will join 11 other Trinity wrestlers — eight girls and three boys — at the two-day state tournament at Berry Center in the Cypress-Fairbanks school district.

Beggs is transgender transitioning from female to male, and a 17-year-old junior who is undefeated on the season. He started testosterone replacement therapy in October 2015. He will weigh in Thursday afternoon as a 5-foot-2, fit-and-trim athlete. A healthy boy by every distinguishable measure — with clothes on.

But not by University Interscholastic League standards. The state’s governing body demands Beggs compete as a girl, or not all, even though Nancy Beggs, Mack’s grandmother and guardian, said he would prefer to compete against boys. A year ago, the UIL put to a vote of school district superintendents across the state an amendment that would require gender to be determined by birth certificate.

It overwhelmingly passed 586-32.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/northeast-tarrant/article134529379.html

[uppityperson]

1. What a stupid situation

[Doreen]

2. I have no problem with transgender but my question is this.

The body he has is a male body and typically...not always...but most of the time men/boys are naturally stronger than women/girls. Would that kind of be an unfair advantage to the girls?

[pkdu]

3. Article says he is competing as a girl because they are forcing him to..

Beggs is transgender transitioning from female to male, and a 17-year-old junior who is undefeated on the season.

[Doreen]

6. Well, I guess there is not a problem with that.

I should however probably not say to much about strength because I was extremely strong when I was a young girl. I am a woos now.

[ciaobaby]

4. I have no problem with this

Think of Firemen and women. They both have to pass the same strength test. Carry the same weight firehose, climb the same ladder, handle the same situations.
It's all good.

[Doreen]

5. Good point.

I will say that when I was younger I could beat the guys at bucking hay onto the truck.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

8. He's on testosterone

Under any other conditions, he would be disqualified with good reason.

Basically, because he is transgender he has the right to "juice up" which gives him an extremely unfair advantage against the girls.

This isn't a victory for transgender rights, but, hopefully, will bring attention to the subject. Frankly, had Mack competed with the boys, his record would likely not be 54-0.

[Ilsa]

7. Can he pass a drug test while undergoing hormone therapy?

I hope he's not disqualified.

I think this needs to happen so people can see him, his size, and how using the birth certificate as proof of gender is absurd. They're going to see a boy with his hands all over girls, pinning them to the mat. I hope it opens eyes.