GWU's Kye Allums Takes the Women's Basketball Court as a Man
Here's Hoping Allums' Courage Raises the Acceptance Bar for LBGTs
On the other hand, will people be more accepting of Kye Allums' transgender status simply because he is an athlete? Let us hope this is not the case.
Forgiving World of Sports Cannot Work Here
For reasons I have yet to identify with by my own standard - forgiveness and acceptance in any sport is an effortless process. No matter what some sport icons do, there is a bizarre level of fan compassion padding the offense. Whether it is infidelity, a drug or weapons charge or despicable behavior, we tend to turn our back in the name of sports.
Kye Allums, though, and the magnitude of what he represents has nothing to do with fan-based leniency because he is a transgender. It is not about how many points he scores for his GWU team. It is not even about basketball for that matter. It is about life - and people should judge Allums foremost as a human being.
Moving the World Forward
I admire and applaud that Kye Allums is not making this all about him. It "bothered" him to have to hide who he was. He wanted to be upfront with his coach and teammates. His honest effort to get things out in the open before the basketball season starts at GWU, though, includes embracing the LBGT community as a whole. Allums told the press he is "... trying to help myself and others to be who they are." Certainly, Kye displays an unselfish attitude and one the world could use more of today.
Apparently, Allums' teammates, coach and George Washington University staff have been supportive. What would be the reason not to support this fine example of a young adult? So what if he is a transgender? Kye is majoring in interior design, plays a hell of a game of basketball, appears to have a promising future and obviously has it together in life;. what is there not to love about this dynamo?
When you consider the amazing number of young adults in this country who senselessly got themselves caught up in gangs, murder, drugs and going nowhere fast, Kye Allums speaks to me as being an intelligent, first-rate human being. Perhaps he is that human being who can advocate in a progressive manner - a healthy awareness and acceptance of the LBGT community.
Million Dollar 'Why the Women's Team' Question
Allums will be playing on the George Washington University women's basketball team as a man. The only stipulation is that Kye cannot take part, medically, in any testosterone treatments. It is that simple. Due to the nature of the beast, I am positive there will be those who will unabashedly rake Allums over the coals because of this. Seriously, to what end, though?
Focus on the Human Factor
If so many people in America casually accept the blatant absurdity of political correctness, it seems to me they should have little difficulty finding it in their hearts to accept Kye Allums - or any of the good people in the LBGT community, for that matter. As a society that ponders removing the word "God" from everything, can we just move on now?
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Published by Cathy A Montville - Featured Contributor in Business & Finance
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27 Comments
Post a Comment@NatalyaX - Just to be clear - Kye has never had any type of surgery. He was born a female, but has made the decision to live life as a male. However, he cannot take part in any hormone therapy of any kind while playing basketball on GWU's women's team.
The controversy over George Washington University student Allums has reached a fever pitch. Kye, who is a female-to-male transgendered pupil, will continue to play basketball. He can be competing on the females team. The decision was made in cooperation with the National Collegiate Athletic Association and George Washington University. I can't help but wonder how large of a personal loan she had to take out for this type of surgery.
I tend to disagree with Charles Darwin's theory that we are all evolving. I'm astounded by how much ignorance this world still lives in. I'd love to see us all embrace our differences and, as you suggest, move on!
Sounds interesting!
I had not heard of this. Kyle is indeed courageous, and you obviously really do believe in 'liberty and justice for all'. Bravo Cathy! I'm so glad I read this piece. We need more people who believe in the American dreams, no matter what they dream may be.
Great read!
This has to be really hard on him. Good report, Cathy.
Some people are very selfish. Great story Cathy.
Wonderfully done and a nice job on this! (On a side note, my son's name is Kye :) lol)
You nailed it. We are all one and wouldn't it be a wonderful world if everybody suspended judgment and just saw the sweet spirit inside of people?