Brittney Griner is widely regarded as one of the best players in WNBA history. In spite of the fact that she has just one WNBA title to her name, she has earned a spot among the best players in the history of the league. Because of this, a significant number of people in the United States are furious over her arrest in Russia. Despite this, the Phoenix Mercury star was eventually brought back after a number of unsuccessful efforts.
Following her release, she was subjected to intense scrutiny from the public at large, regardless of how long-ago certain events had happened. A perfect illustration of this would be her contentious statements about the playing of the American national anthem after the opening of the film. Some fans were so committed to their cause that they even photoshopped a beard onto BG’s face. There is no question that Griner’s sexuality has been the focus of a significant amount of scrutiny. A significant number of Brittney’s fans still have a great deal of curiosity about her early years.
The unofficial tests of transgender identity: Brittney Griner
Basketball superstar Brittney Griner has been the topic of speculation over her purported participation in a three-point shooting scandal. These claims have been around for some time. For a very long time, gender standards on what constitutes femininity have been a contentious topic. When there is a departure from the norm, gender identity becomes a problem that has to be addressed.
The Olympic gold and silver medallist is 32 years old, has a height of 6 feet 9 inches, weighs more than 200 pounds, has an arm spread of 222 centimeters, and wears a shoe size 17 in the United States. The combination of her height and her prowess on the court makes her a desirable possibility for basketball teams of both sexes. After being jailed in Russia for ten months on drug-related allegations, Brittney speaks at the ‘Bring Your Family Home’ press conference on April 27 at the FootPrint Centre in Arizona.
Brittney was released from detention on April 27. Her tone conveys the genuine emotions of relief and gratitude that she is feeling. That was the first time that her voice was heard on the internet. There was an overabundance of responses. Brittney’s resonant baritone received the most attention, as opposed to the more pressing issue of Americans being detained in other countries. The trials for inappropriate classification by gender have now begun.
Is Brittney Griner a transgender?
Considering that Brittney was clearly born a female, the quick answer is no, she is not transgender. She came out as a lesbian many years ago and hasn’t given the subject another thought since then. Raymond and Sandra, her parents, were polar opposites to one another in every way imaginable. Brittney was well aware that Raymond would not embrace her or her attempts to come out as transgender. She was also aware that Raymond would not accept her. Brittney went ahead and did it despite the fact that she knew what reaction to expect from her father.
The WNBA standout had to overcome a number of obstacles in her early life, many of which were aimed at her because of the way she looked or identified sexually. She is now one of the most successful players in the league. In spite of the fact that her deep and powerful voice worked against her in the “golden child” category, her life was completely turned upside down as she came out as gay. The reaction that Raymond had was intense, and he even had Brittney leave the home without her will. Although they had their share of challenges, Raymond eventually learned to accept his daughter as his own and love her as his own.
Brittney Griner: Did She Reveal Her Transgender Status?
Government records indicate that Brittney Yevette Griner, born on October 18, 1990, in Houston, Texas, is a girl. Baylor University in Waco, Texas, was fortunate to have her as a player since she was the finest shot blocker in women’s collegiate basketball annals. By the year 2013, she had already been selected first overall in the WNBA draughts. The fact that she is a transgender person is not something that she has ever discussed in public.
In terms of pronouns, she exclusively makes use of she and her. Soon after making her debut, she wed another member of the group, Glory Johnson, in 2015. Following their divorce, she is now married to Cherelle Griner, and she does not hide the fact that she is gay. In point of fact, Griner has been an advocate for a very long time for trans women to be allowed to participate in women’s sports. Her participation in public life ought to be adequate evidence of her gender. Then why is she continuously subjected to not only rumors? But also real people identifying her as a man.
Details about Griner on SportsIllustrated
In a video interview conducted in April and posted on SportsIllustrated.com, Griner made a passing comment about being a lesbian. The announcement was made in a low-key manner during spring and summer, which witnessed many historic events for the gay rights movement. These events included the decision of the Supreme Court to overturn a federal prohibition on gay marriage and the coming out of NBA backup center Jason Collins as the first male professional athlete to do so while still actively playing. Griner shared with me during lunch in Los Angeles that same July that her sexual orientation was just a secret in the sense that she hadn’t disclosed it publicly before her appearance on Conan that evening. She asserts that she never made an effort to conceal the fact that she was attracted to women when she was a student at Baylor University, and she says so while resting her long forearms on the table and picking at a dish of chicken tenders. However, early on, school administrators saw tweets she had sent that exposed her desire to be with others of the same sexual orientation and asked her to keep quiet about it. This was a Baptist organization in the city of Waco in the state of Texas.
According to the policy of the institution, “homosexual acts” are considered sexually inappropriate conduct as well as “misuses of God’s gifts.” Griner adds that until her senior year, when she was “just like, Screw ’em, I’m gonna say what I want,” she went about with one foot in the closet and one foot out. she says she was just like them. and she wished that she is going to say whatever she wants. What even were they going to do about it? I don’t understand what you mean when you say I can’t continue going to this school. After all, Griner had already established herself as a legend for the Baylor Bears and was well on her way to being the most decorated female college basketball player in the annals of the sport’s history by scoring 3,283 points over the course of four years.
The Policing of Women’s Gender Identity in Athletics
The fight for transgender rights is now receiving the attention that has long been overdue. The major objective was to assist them in becoming fully accepted members of the general population as quickly as possible. As the movement gained momentum, the question of the significance of gender and sex in competition became a problem that was more demanding for sports federations to address. The distinction between the hormonal and the biological advantages enjoyed by trans women is the core of the debate. Transgender women who have completed male puberty are not allowed to compete in elite female events by World Athletics. Although there are good arguments to be made for both sides of this debate, the court decided to find in favor of excluding transgender athletes from competition.
Why Does Exclusion of Transgender Women Hurt All Women?
According to the findings of an investigation conducted by Science.org, there is an absence of adequate evidence to support the hypothesis that transgender women have any benefits over cisgender women. It is not possible to rely on the results of tests that measure an athlete’s muscle mass and hemoglobin levels in order to forecast how well they would perform in a specific sport. Due to the fact that the process of transitioning slows them down, a group of eight women came to the scientific conclusion that trans women do not have an advantage over cis women while competing in races. Because it can accurately forecast future increases in muscle mass, red blood cell count, and strength, testosterone is a very valuable measure. Research would be hampered if transgender women were barred from participating in high-level sporting competitions. The specialists in the audience will do their best to drown out the real story.
Focusing the spotlight on Griner’s Black and LGBT identities
It is tough to pick between Griner’s upbeat attitude and her performance during the press conference on April 27. Many others were concerned that she would never come back during those months. The fact that she was able to do so is proof that a lot of hard work was put in by negotiators both within and outside of the United States government, as well as by her WNBA teammates. Although hundreds of male and female American athletes have competed overseas for decades, even in a tiny number of countries with a high risk of injury, Griner is the only one who has ever been kept hostage abroad.
In addition, the fact that Griner is an out and proud lesbian of African descent contributed to the singularity of this case. For a significant number of years, the presumption has been made that female athletes should be of European descent, heterosexual, and feminine. Griner made history when she entered the professional league in 2013. She was the first LGBTQ athlete to be pushed by Nike, and she did so publicly before being selected first overall by Phoenix. Griner entered the professional league in 2013. She has devoted her whole professional life to raising awareness about how important it is for members of the LGBT community to stand together. During her husband’s time in jail, Cherelle, her wife, was also a prominent figure in the media.
Reviews from Professor Susan Cahn of the University of Buffalo
According to Susan Cahn, a professor at the University at Buffalo who specializes in the study of gender and sexuality in sports, athletes are becoming more public about their sexual orientation and gender identity. Cahn has conducted extensive research on these topics. The Women’s National Basketball Association has been a leader in this movement. Griner has shown that despite the presence of a significant number of out lesbians in that league, it is still possible to effectively advertise the league. She broke taboos and suffered much for it, yet her courage allowed others to follow suit. Regarding this topic, she has a high level of respect. However, because of the geopolitical sensitivity of the situation, Griner’s loved ones were first given the instruction to maintain their silence out of the worry that disclosing the details of her arrest and identity may put her in a life-threatening situation.
Claims of veteran WNBA player Layshia Clarendon
Layshia Clarendon, who made history by becoming the first out transgender and non-binary player in the WNBA, recently shared that she first feared that her identities as a Black person and a queer person would work against her. That was a real thing that I saw. It would be smart not to attract attention to such details, given the country in which she was now residing. However, when it was eventually safe to publicize Griner’s illness, the LGBTQ community and the WNBA made her identify a focal point and a call to arms.
For Clarendon, BG’s imprisonment brought up problems of who has the authority to self-identify as an American or a patriot in the first place. Typically, a cisgender, white, military-age man from the Midwest comes to mind when we think of someone being detained. It is necessary to take into consideration the lengthy and convoluted history of the connection between racism and the prohibition of cannabis. Because BG was shown as the scapegoat and a racist narrative was constructed around her, viewers were less likely to say things like, “Oh, I can see themselves in her and understand her.” It came out that she was right in the thick of things with all that was going on. The struggles that she overcame helped shape her into the person that she is today.
According to the assertions of Cahn, a professor at Buffalo
Over the course of its history, a number of players have maintained the position that the sheer existence of their league is a resistance. There is no doubt that their actions have had an impact. Professor Cahn of the University at Buffalo claims that he has never seen a league that has better politics. Griner also intends to carry on her political involvement in the future with the purpose of bringing more attention to the situation of other American citizens who are now confined.
According to Clarendon, a WNBA veteran, the freedom of black women is integral to the liberation of all people. Griner has pledged to continue making connections and bringing attention to the plight of other detainees. Cahn believes that Griner is capable of having a significant impact on the LGBTQ+ community over the long run. Cahn considers Griner’s compassion, sense of humor, generosity, and large heart to be potentially powerful qualities in an individual. Cahn continued by saying that “those characteristics leap out at you the moment you meet her.” She questions the validity of a number of accepted principles. Since Griner’s return, the WNBA community and Griner have been able to build their links by means of a variety of means of activism. This has brought attention to the connection that exists between the two communities, which is mutually beneficial to all parties involved.
Why Is It Such a Big Deal to Get Brittney Griner’s Gender Wrong?
The group that is opposed to transgender people is dead-set on proving that a person’s DNA is the single most accurate indicator of how well they will do in sports, which indicates that people’s ideas about a person’s gender are formed based on their appearance. Because of these erroneous ideas, it is common routine to do invasive medical tests on athletes, especially female athletes. A significant number of female athletes, such as Dutee Chand, Stella Walsh, Santhi Soundarajan, Caster Semenya, and Ewa Klobukowska, were kicked out of competitions for “not being female enough.” The latest person to fall prey to unwarranted criticism is Brittney Griner, whose career has been highlighted by great accomplishments. This will only aid those outside organizations in their efforts to limit the number of women who take part in athletics if they do this.
