“I am a woman, just like anybody else on the team,” Lia Thomas, the transgender collegiate swimmer, said in an interview with  Sports Illustrated. Except, no, Lia is not a woman, and Lia is surely not like anybody else on the women’s  swimming team. It is absurd to think otherwise, and such talk must stop. It has gone on long enough.

Lia’s declaration of being a woman, and subsequently having an article published in  Sports Illustrated celebrating it, should raise flags. One cannot authentically change from male to female just by saying so. Embracing such a fantasy will cause irreparable harm to women in the future. It will ultimately result in the loss of opportunities for women in every aspect of society. If a male wishes to self-identify as female, that’s a personal choice. However, his right to embrace a female identity must not infringe on the rights and opportunities of actual females. Real women should not have to suffer so Lia Thomas can identify as one.

“I’m a woman, so I belong on the women’s team,” the swimmer said in the interview. “Trans people deserve that same respect every other athlete gets.” But Lia is not a woman, and Lia’s anatomy and physiology show that. As far as respect is concerned, other athletes do not traditionally compete against opponents who are biologically different. And, as the saying goes, “respect is earned, not given.”

For Lia to describe Lia as “just like anybody else on the team” is delusional. Nobody else on the female  swimming team at the University of Pennsylvania swam on the men’s team for three years. No other female had the bone structure of a male. No other females benefited from a larger percentage of skeletal muscle that post-pubescent male bodies have. None of the other females have the larger hearts that men do (proportionate to body size). And last but certainly not least, none of the other females enjoyed the height advantage Lia Thomas did.

Lia Thomas is a microcosm of the larger problem regarding transgender people in society — a sense of entitlement. Initially, the transgender rights movement sought to achieve equality and acceptance. People fought to not be discriminated against or have their civil rights violated. Yet, those days are gone. It has morphed into a toxic crusade advocating priority and privilege. It encourages acts such as Lia Thomas announcing (and believing) that Lia is a woman — when it is categorically not true.

Furthermore, while Lia seeks respect, Lia has directly benefited from disrespecting Lia’s teammates. They lost the right to fair athletic competition because of Lia. They lost the right to not be exposed to male nudity in their locker room. They lost the right to be crowned champions of certain events because Lia had faster times. It is true that Lia should not be disrespected. However, Lia Thomas must also respect others — especially the women who lost their rights so Lia could shine.

The case of Lia Thomas represents an important cultural issue. Transgender people should not be victims of any form of discrimination, harassment, or violation of their civil rights. At the same time, transgender propaganda must not be allowed to recreate  science or tear down societal norms, but this is exactly what is occurring. Declaring pronouns, creating numerous genders, making up words in the English language, and vilifying anyone who disagrees with such things is not equality or respect. It is societal repression.

Will Smith’s former assistant appeared on a podcast, claiming that he “opened the door to Duane Martin's dressing room” and saw Will and Will having sex

Jada Pinkett Smith has said she is considering taking legal action against her husband Will Smith’s former assistant Brother Bilaal, who claimed he walked in on Will and having sex in a dressing room several years ago. After the claims surfaced and made headlines, Jada told TMZ, “We suin’!”Jada Pinkett Smith (R) has said she is considering taking legal action against her husband Will Smith’s (R) former assistant, who claimed he walked in on Will and Duane Martin (L) having sex in a dressing room several years ago (duane_martin/Instagram, Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP)

It is unclear whether Jada has seriously planned to consult her lawyers. However, a source told the outlet that Will is “actually weighing his legal options, so there could be some truth to Jada’s response.” A rep also said, “This story is completely fabricated and the claim is unequivocally false.”
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Bilaal previously appeared on the Unwine With Tasha K podcast, claiming that he “opened the door to Duane’s dressing room” and saw “Duane having anal sex with Will” over a couch. Duane was married to actress Tisha Campbell from 1996 to 2020.

Jada hit back at multiple rumours about her relationship with Will, while she promoted her memoir Worthy last month. On one occasion, Today host Hoda Kotb asked her if they are in open marriage or are swingers. She also asked her if one of them is gay. “I would say that none of that’s true,” Jada replied.

Jada also said during the promotional tour that she and Will have had “completely separate lives” since 2016. “I think just not being ready yet,” Jada said, addressing why she did not publicly discuss her life with Will. Still trying to figure out between the two of us how to be in partnership, right? And in regards to, how do we present that to people? And we hadn’t figured that out.”

Jada added that there is no romance between Will and her, although they are legally married. She also claimed that her love with Will is “fractured,” adding that over the years, she has been thinking of legally divorcing him.