Trans-identifying female boxer speaks her mind, then corrects herself

Filipino boxer Hergie Bacyadan, a female who identifies as male but competes in the female division and has not taken testosterone, was quoted as saying that athletes born with XY chromosomes should not be allowed to compete in the women's competition. She continued by saying that athletes who had previously failed testosterone and gender eligibility tests should be banned from competing in women’s events. Bacyadan told reporters that though she sparred with male fighters to improve her skills, she didn’t think males should be able to compete in the female category. Bacyadan spoke through an interpreter to Australian outlet Wide World of Sports, and several other news sources after the IOC green lighted two boxers who had been banned for having XY chromosomes (male karyotype). Wide World of Sports printed the article on July 31.

Bacyadan represented the Philippines at the Paris Olympics. Both Bacyadan and her trainers freely speak of her female biology, and use female pronouns when talking about her boxing career, delineating her life in the ring from that outside of it. That acknowledgement of reality is in itself unusual and refreshing, but brands her as a borderline heretic in the trans community. Bacyadan was mentioned by Outsports but their coverage was muted. Openly recognizing one’s biology labels you as maybe not true trans, unlike poster child mid-distance runner Nikki Hiltz, who ties herself in knots to avoid stating the obvious—that she’s female—and whose mental health depends on others using they/them pronouns. Outsports, and the media in general, lost their collective minds over Nikki Hiltz, the flag bearer of gender ideology, but Bacyadan’s Olympic bouts, a female competing in the female category who is not fussed about pronouns (Bacyadan lost to a Chinese boxer 5-0), drew almost no attention. Of course, Outsports did not report Bacyadan’s comment about XY athletes in women’s sports, and religiously used he/him pronouns.

Cut to August 5th. Bacyadan posted a long “clarification” on Instagram, that was more like a gushing 180-degree about face with some mea culpas and another emphatic I’m-female thrown in for good measure. Here’s the text:

I want to clarify and address the recent claims circulating on the internet regarding my involvement in the controversy about my two co-boxers. To set the record straight, I have never made any statements suggesting that they should be banned from the Olympics. I hold them in the highest regard and would never wish any harm or misfortune upon them.

Furthermore, I am fully aware that these two athletes are cisgender women. I have met them personally, and they are unquestionably women, fully qualified and deserving of their place in the competition. The criticism they are receiving on social media is entirely unfounded and unjust. As a fellow athlete, I understand the pressures and judgments that come with the territory, but this level of unfounded scrutiny is unfair to them.

Regarding my own eligibility, I want to emphasize that I have adhered to all Olympic requirements and am biologically a woman. Despite any misconceptions about my appearance or identity, my qualifications as a female boxer remain intact. I hope this message helps clear up any misunderstandings and puts an end to the spread of false information.

Considering this post is in perfect English and Bacyadan’s original statement about XY athletes was translated through an interpreter, it’s hard to tell if Bacyadan’s original statement was misinterpreted, or whether she still feels XY athletes should not compete in women’s sports but that these two boxers are women, or whether this post is a major backpedal and, in fact, she sees nothing wrong with XY athletes in women’s sports. This post, as I said, is not just a hair off of the original statement, or missing a bit of nuance, it’s a total reversal. Bacyadan’s first statement was based on chromosomal and testosterone screens. Science. And of course first person experience, having sparred with men. I don’t think she was misinterpreted. She “clarified” her stance based on having met Khelif and Lin. So, appearance, with a healthy dose of social pressure. She did not indicate how meeting the two boxers could lead to such a definitive assessment, nor whether she still felt that XY athletes should not compete with XX athletes.

I did not find any evidence of public shaming that might have led to this “clarification,” which is not to say that pressure did not exist. This looks like a case of self censorship. Bacyadan, having sparred with men, knows the difference between a male and a female punch, and has six kinds of skin in that game. This intimate knowledge of the realities of sex in boxing, and an unusual willingness to talk about it made her problematic for the trans community. As detransitioners and biology realists in the trans community can attest, anything less than complete acceptance of doctrine is apostasy. No doubt Bacyadan found that it’s easier to make a general statement (that XY people should not compete with XX) than it is to stand by that statement when face-to-face with some XY people who are loudly declaring they’re women, and being vigorously championed by her very own trans community. Awkward. It’s not hard to see how Bacyadan could have felt it wise in a skin-saving way to get in line and issue this florid about face. Given its crystal clear English format, it’s possible she even had help crafting it.

I like Hergie Bacyadan. I like her refreshing honesty. It’s beyond frustrating that her story was completely overlooked by the media—mainstream, IOC, and LGBTQ friendly. Bacyadan is the perfect example of the elusive inclusion, safety, and fairness trifecta sports are seeking. The solution to including trans athletes in sports already exists. If we used Hergie Bacyadan’s story as an example, if men’s sports learned to accept all men regardless of how they identify, as women’s sports already does, then maybe Hergie Bacyadan could speak her mind without feeling the need to backpedal.