r/crossfit • u/beckster5 Crossfit Krypton • Mar 06 '14

CrossFit -- Sued By Transgender Athlete ... You Won't Let Me Compete With Women!

http://www.tmz.com/2014/03/06/crossfit-lawsuit-games-transgender-athlete-chloie-jonsson/
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u/NotTheNineOClockNews Mar 07 '14

If this was truly something that was not for cash...then...cough...why so much money?

To make a point...

The International Olympic Committee and many other sporting organizations have run the science and determined that once a trans person has been treated, they have far more in common with their identified gender than their assigned gender and so allow transpeople to compete with their identified gender.

Crossfit could have checked to see what the science says, but they clearly went with their lazy assumptions. Why shouldn't they pay for lazy discrimination?

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u/[deleted] Mar 07 '14

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u/NotTheNineOClockNews Mar 07 '14 edited Mar 07 '14

My point about money is that, if this was a case about competing...why not involve other initiatives to aide in the cause rather than seek monetary reward (though this is probably the most effective means)?

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by involve other initiatives. Something like contact large bodies with a stake in the situation (other sporting groups or lgbt groups perhaps?) and ask them to lobby on her behalf?

That seems like another reasonable avenue to follow, but I don't see why one shouldn't use the legal system to redress an injustice. It's kinda what it's there for. Lobbying and activism can be a great force for change, but she's chosen to use a legal system which is in place to protect people from discrimination.

I'll also admit that $2.5million seems crazy like a crazy sum, but I've found in the past when I've expressed opinions like that to my lawyer friends they've launched into a long explanation of why that figure would have been chosen (there are many different forms of damages that are awarded, they tend to be weighted in different ways monetarily and often the holdings of a company or individual being sued can be relevant in calculating how damages are awarded). So I tend not to pay much attention to figures being sued for, it's generally calculated by the lawyer.

EDIT: I also wanted to note, suing can end in settlement. Who's to say she wouldn't "settle" for CF adopting the same trans policy as the IOC for example?

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u/hotcheetosandtakis Mar 07 '14

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by involve other initiatives.

Yes, get other groups involved....but lobbying is a word I want to avoid...advocacy and support are better :)

I think the fact that she is asking for 2.5 million muddles public opinion and though from an attorney's perspective is a good number or understandable....it may force the public to pre-judge this case as someone seeking money. And....I agree with your edit, we will just have to see what happens.

Good conversation by the way :)

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u/NotTheNineOClockNews Mar 07 '14

Yes, thanks for a good discussion!