A female skateboarding champion has strongly condemned the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports, calling it "unfair".
Taylor Silverman says she is "done being silent" after she same runner-up to a trans competitor in a local competition.
The debate surrounding trans athletes competing against biological genders which they weren't technically assigned to themselves at birth has been a contentious dispute which has left many people divided.
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Some see it as driving inclusivity for everyone, while others view it as one-sided by giving an unequal advantage.
So after recently coming in second place to trans competitor Lillian Gallagher at Red Bull Cornerstone contest, Silverman decided to speak out and voice her own frustrations.
“I am done being silent. Please share,” wrote Silverman on Instagram.
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“Second slide is the email I sent redbull that was completely ignored.”
“My name is Taylor Silverman. I am a female athlete. I have been skateboarding for eleven years and competing for several years. I have been in three different contests with trans women, two of which I placed second. At the last contest series I did for Redbull, I placed second.
“The trans competitor who won took $1000 dollars in qualifiers, $3000 in finals, and $1000 in best trick. This totalled to $5000 of the prize money meant for the female athletes,” she continued. “I took $1000 in qualifiers and $1750 for second place, so $2750 in total. The girl who took third received $750.”
Silverman then attached a letter she directly addressed to Red Bull.
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"Hi Erich, Hope all is well with you. I am reaching out in hopes of being directed to the right person to express my concerns about what occurred at the Redbull Cornerstone content with the transgender competitor in the women’s division," the email read.
"Perhaps that is you. If not, hopefully you can put me in contact with the correct person.
"A biological man with a clear advantage won the women’s division, best trick, and also won multiple qualifiers.
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"This took away the opportunity that was meant for women to place and earn money. What happened was unfair and at the time I was too uncomfortable to speak up. I understand that in today's society even some women think this is acceptable, but I believe in doing the right thing even if it’s not the popular thing. I now realise it’s really important for me to speak up and I’d like to schedule a time to talk."
Silverman's comments come during a time where there is plenty of debate regarding transgender athletes in sport.
Trans swimmer Lia Thomas has made headlines over the last 12 months or so after she broke a number of female collegiate records in the pool, despite only transitioning a few years prior.
Unfortunately for Thomas, she found herself in the firing line from online trolls, while the sport's governing body the NCAA was bombarded with complaints from fellow swimmers, parents and sports fans.
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Meanwhile, the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo was the first to welcome multiple transgender and non-binary athletes to the biggest stage of all.
Max Sherry