Athena Ryan is a high school track star who ran track as a boy up until 2021. Now, in 2023, he says she's a girl and is going to the GIRLS' state championship in the 1600-meter race. Adeline Johnson, who is a girl and has only ever been a girl, finished fourth and will be missing out on the state championship opportunity.

Not everyone felt it was fair that Athena -- who raced as a boy in the first half of xir high school career -- was allowed to race and take opportunities from lifelong girls. They expressed their first amendment right to assemble because, as of this writing, that is still allowed in California.

Ryan could not contain -- her -- excitement that -- she -- scored a new personal best: "I wasn't expecting that. I dropped like seventeen seconds on my season's best in the past two weeks."

Johnson could not contain her disappointment and was caught giving a thumbs down as Ryan was given -- Ryan's -- medal.

It is unclear if Johnson will face disciplinary action -- remember, this is California -- for not celebrating her beautiful and brave opponent's victory. Or why she isn't taking solace in the words of Democrat officials who say girls' school sports don't matter because girls won't amount to anything in them anyway. However, those few girls who have are all about making sure no one else does.

The contentious debate over allowing girls who were boys but now say they are girls to compete in girls sports shows no signs of resolving itself. On one side are people who think it's unfair to force young girls to compete against girls who used to be boys and have all the biological advantages girls who were born boys have. It robs those girls (in the first group) of opportunities that could lead to scholarships and more. Also, forcing young girls to change with classmates who have male body parts is weird and people who support forcing them to do so should feel disgusted with themselves because you're a gross person. That is one side of the argument.

The other side of the argument thinks you're a homophobic transphobe.

America continues to look for common ground.

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Brodigan is Grand Poobah of this here website and when he isn't writing words about things enjoys day drinking, pro-wrestling, and country music. You can find him on the Twitter too.

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