“Why Aren’t Women up in Arms?”: Lee Priest Questions Women’s Silence Over Trans Athletes in Powerlifting, Calls It “Ridiculous”

Feb 27th, 2023 chronicled a trailblazing success in the history of transgender rights. For JayCee Cooper, a transgender woman, her fight for equality materialized when she filed a discrimination case against the USA Powerlifting federation with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights in 2019. The ruling went in favor of JayCee, and the statements by Judge Diamond divided the room. As many were quick to slam the Judge’s ruling, this former IFBB Pro is making headlines in a recent YouTube video. Lee Priest, the Australian bodybuilding great, put a few things into perspective.

At times when the need to be extra sensitive has increased many folds, Priest advocated that women must also be able to call a clear distinction between day and night. In a recent YouTube interview with Dave Palumbo on RxMuscle — The Truth in Bodybuilding, Lee Priest was posed with a hot question about the ruling that justified transgender athletes competing in women’s events. Priest, completely aware that it might tick off many people, still gave his unfettering stance on the subject. Here’s what he said.

Lee Priest is baffled by the court’s ruling

The Minnesota court ruling now allows transgender athletes to compete in women’s powerlifting events. Priest immediately shows his displeasure at this update. He said in the interview, “What I don’t get is when you see this sort of stuff there are more men outraged than women”, indicating that such a decision is detrimental to women more than men. Since, as per him, deserving women miss out on a chance of title victory.

He says, “Why aren’t women up in arms about this? Because everyone’s too scared, walking on eggshells if we say anything we’re transphobic. No, you’re not. If they say that, fine but they shouldn’t be competing in women’s sports. It’s ridiculous”. Priest completely vents his frustration on what he clearly sees as an unfair contest. The flip side to that story, is transgender athletes believe they deserve a chance like everyone else, and that chance is only fair if pitted alongside women.

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Priest, who has previously called out the unfairness of Mr. Olympia’s prizing criteria, also cites the example of former Olympic gold medallist and decathlete Caitlyn Jenner. Born Bruce Jenner, she came out as a transgender woman in April 2015. Her struck a different level of adulation as Caitlyn Jenner after becoming the ‘Woman of the Year’ in 2015. That is where Priest has a problem.

Priest believes this is unjust for women

He says that if becoming a woman within six months grants you the prestige of being a woman of the year, how does it bode well with any other female who may have significantly contributed to society for a longer period of time? He said, “Imagine you’re a woman and you’ve discovered some breakthrough in cancer” comparing it to Jenner winning the prestigious award and feeling silly about it.

While Preist’s words will actually reverse the Minnesota court ruling, or simply create another burning debate on social media before dying down, is yet to be discovered. But his words and views are definitely going to take a journey of their own.

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