I am so devastated about how Caster Semenya's privacy has been violated. I think she should be able to keep her medal, continue to run with women and be regarded as whatever gender she feels reflects her identity. My prayers and warm thoughts are with her.

I am also afraid for her safety. While violence against women is a worldwide problem, gender-based violence in the form of rape is particularly prevalent in South Africa. Along with rape in South Africa is the pervasiveness of corrective rape. While sexual orientation and gender should not be confused with each other, queer folks are targeted for these heinous crimes for similar reasons.

Now more than ever, we must be reminded about this petition . We have to be ready to flex our gender tolerance muscles. Allies cannot be silent on this. I am determined to use this case as an opportunity to stand against hateful comments that might arise in my professional, familial or social circles. Gender is a social construction, not a matter of testosterone or reproductive capability.

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September 13, 2009 1:59 AM

[0+]  MASHBengal said:

Thanks for the link to the petition.

Several of the comments on the first link are making me rather ill, especially the ones about how she can't be a woman because she might not have ovaries or a uterus (an article I read said those reports had been unconfirmed or have those reports been confirmed now?). I usually don't think gender has to match or equal sex. Or maybe I'm just ignorant on that subject?

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