Caitlyn Jenner reacted to criticism of her position on transgender athletes.
Jenner took to Twitter to react to a story published by the UK-based LGBTQ site Pink News that suggested she is launching “yet another disgraceful attack on trans athletes without a hint of irony.”
The former Olympic gold medalist tweeted, “No, I just had the balls to stand up for women and girls in sports.”
No, I just had the balls to stand up for women and girls in sports. https://t.co/FEl2Hav5z6
— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) March 17, 2022
The article took issue with comments Jenner made during an interview with the Daily Mail.
“I don’t think biological boys should compete in women’s sports – we have to protect women’s sports…that’s the bottom line,” Jenner said.
She added, “I don’t see how you can be happy beating other girls under these circumstances. You have to have a sense of personal responsibility. You can still enjoy sports but not play at a competitive level, right?”
The outlet noted Jenner was referring to transgender female swimmer Lia Thomas of the University of Pennsylvania. Thomas became the first known transgender athlete to win a Division I national championship on Thursday.
Others took issue with Thomas’ victory, including the parents of an Auburn University swimmer, as IJR reported.
“We do not support a biological male swimming in the women’s championship meet against females,” the swimmer’s mother said, adding, “It is an unfair advantage.”
Her father continued, “It’s taking opportunity away from females that have worked very, very hard for a long, long time, even before college, to get in this position. It’s just not right.”
Sports Illustrated published a profile on Thomas in March, saying the swimmer has “become a lightning rod for controversy.”
Thomas told the publication, “I just want to show trans kids and younger trans athletes that they’re not alone,” adding, “They don’t have to choose between who they are and the sport they love.”