A high school volleyball player injured by a transgender opponent has spoken out, accusing the Biden administration of “hypocrisy” for calling opposing trans athletes in girls’ sports dangerous.
Payton McNabb, of Cherokee County, North Carolina, previously said she suffered a concussion and neck injury in November 2022 after a transgender opponent spiked a ball that hit her in the face.
On Friday, McNabb appeared on Fox News and responded to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who was asked at a news conference earlier this week about parents who have concerns about trans athletes in school sports.
Jean-Pierre replied, “Basically, what you mean by that is saying that transgender children are dangerous… It’s dangerous to say that transgender children that we’re talking about are inherently dangerous.”
McNabb responded in the Fox News interview: “She took what others have said about how dangerous this is for us and she’s basically flipped it and portrayed the situation as a victim, which is what I expect of the whole government no less. ”
Payton McNabb appeared on Fox News and responded to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre
Jean-Pierre “It’s dangerous to say that essentially transgender kids that we’re talking about are dangerous.”
McNabb has previously called for legal restrictions on transgender athletes in women’s sports, including in a testimony before the North Carolina state legislature in April.
Accompanied by swimmer and activist Riley Gaines, McNabb spoke out in favor of HB 574 – the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which would effectively ban natural transgender male athletes from participating in high school women’s track and field events.
McNabb said at the hearing, “It is dangerous to allow biological males to compete with biological females.”
“I may be the first to come to you with an injury, but if this doesn’t go away I won’t be the last.”
Versions of North Carolina’s bill have passed the state House of Representatives and Senate. The main difference is whether the ban applies to colleges, and negotiations are ongoing to pass a unified version.
But to pass the measure, lawmakers will likely have to overcome a veto from Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat who has opposed the bill.
At least 20 other states have introduced similar restrictions on transgender athletes at the K-12 or collegiate level.
However, the Biden administration is trying to amend Title IX, the Women’s Sports Protection Act, to allow athletes to compete on either men’s or women’s teams based on their gender identity.
McNabb is lying on the floor on the left and was knocked unconscious
In April, Gaines tweeted footage of McNabb’s incident, which took place on November 1, 2022, during a Hiwassee High School vs. Highlands High School volleyball game.
A transgender rival from Highlands High School hit the ball, knocking McNabb unconscious.
“I was badly injured in a high school volleyball game by a transgender athlete on the opposing team,” McNabb said Tuesday.
“I suffered a concussion and a neck injury from which I am still recovering to this day.
“Other injuries I still suffer from today include blurred vision, partial paralysis on my right side, constant headaches, and anxiety and depression.”
“I wasn’t able to play the rest of my last volleyball season, and while I currently play softball, I know my injury doesn’t mean I’m doing as well as I have in the past.”
She said her academic performance had been affected and she now needed “accommodation at school for exams”.
She said she is no longer able to “learn, retain and comprehend” as before.
“I could go on and on about how this has impacted my life,” McNabb said.
“But I’m not here for that.” I’m not here for myself.
“Because I know my time as a player is coming to an end.
“I’m here for every biological athlete behind me.”
McNabb referred to a North Carolina law that prohibits discrimination and says everyone should be allowed to compete fairly and on a level playing field.
“My competitiveness was taken away from me,” McNabb said.
“Having to compete with physical men is not a level playing field.”
The bill, which is likely to pass, would prevent biological female athletes from being forced to compete against biological transgender male athletes in school sports intended for women.
It would not prevent transgender athletes from competing on teams that are mixed or gender-determined at birth.
McNabb (left) is seen with swimmer Riley Gaines (right) and Rep. Jennifer Balkcom (center), a Henderson County Republican and a major sponsor of HB 574
So far this year, 20 states have passed laws protecting the rights of female athletes from being exposed to an unfair competitive advantage by biologically male transgender athletes, advocates say.
Opponents of the bill from activist group Equality NC spoke at Tuesday’s hearing, urging politicians to oppose the bill on the grounds that it discourages transgender athletes from competing.
They warned there could be an outcry from activists, similar to the state’s “Bathroom Law” HB 2.
North Carolina spearheaded the transgender toilet battle in March 2016.
A massive nationwide backlash ensued: Adidas, PayPal, Deutsche Bank and other companies considered their plans to expand in North Carolina, and television and film studios changed their minds about filming in the state.
Musicians Nick Jonas, Bruce Springsteen and Demi Lovato announced boycotts, while other artists including Selena Gomez, Mumford and Sons donated a portion of local ticket sales to LGBTQ organisations.
The sports world also reacted: the NBA moved the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte to New Orleans, and the NCAA moved the March Madness basketball championship rounds out of state.
A 2017 analysis by The Associated Press projected that North Carolina would lose more than $3.76 billion and nearly 3,000 jobs over the next 12 years as a direct result of HB 2.