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Renowned astrophysicist and science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson recently found himself in a heated exchange while discussing gender and sports on "TRIGGERnometry," a popular YouTube show hosted by British satirist Konstantin Kisin.
The debate touched upon the controversial topic of whether men should compete in women's sports, with deGrasse Tyson attempting to provide a scientific viewpoint on the matter.
From Chromosomes to Self-Expression
During the conversation, Kisin touched upon deGrasse Tyson's previous statement on TikTok about gender existing on a spectrum.
Tyson had remarked, "The XX, XY chromosomes are insufficient because when we wake up in the morning, we exaggerate whatever feature we want to portray the gender of our choice. Suppose no matter my chromosomes today I feel 80% female, 20% male.
Now I'm going to put on makeup. Tomorrow, I might feel 80% male; I'll remove the makeup, and I'll wear a muscle shirt… What business is it of yours to require that I fulfill your inability to think of gender on a spectrum?" This perspective emphasizes the fluidity of gender expression and challenges the traditional binary understanding of gender based solely on chromosomes.
Leveling the Playing Field
Things took a passionate turn when the show hosts delved deeper, questioning the fairness of women's sports if trans women were to compete. DeGrasse Tyson responded emphatically, "So fix the playing field, da**it!
Don't, don't say it's an unfair playing field. So all of a sudden the big issue is trans women taking the slot of a woman in an unfair playing field, fix the playing field." He further added, "You know something, the day you fix that playing field, this conversation will look completely ridiculous.
That's what I'm trying to tell you." The crux of his argument seemed to be that instead of focusing on whether trans women should compete in women's sports, the attention should be on ensuring that the playing field is fair for everyone.
While the discussion on TRIGGERnometry was intense and at moments heated, it highlights the broader ongoing debates about gender, self-identity, and the world of sports. With voices like deGrasse Tyson adding to the dialogue, it's clear that this conversation will remain in the spotlight for some time to come.