Willi Castro Should Be Celebrated, Even Though Uncertainty Clouds His Gesture's Intentionality

[NYCTK]

6 minutes ago, Possumlad said:

This is the reason much of the sloganeering is oriented towards language like "Trans Women are Women," and why the question of "trans women in sports" is such an important one despite being relatively insignificant in practice.

I do think there's a conversation that can be hand about trans women inclusion in sports but it is such a rare occurrence that it shouldn't be a national discussion. There were around 10 transgender athletes out of 500,000 collegiate athletes last year. These should be addressed case by case, and not fear mongered by national bigots.

It's important to remember that many, if not most, of those public figures fighting against the inclusion of trans women in sports aren't actually concerned about women and, I'd wager, have never met a trans individual in their life. 

Take the losers at Daily Wire for example. They tried to make a documentary about men competing in women's basketball, but they had to scrap the idea because no one is doing that. So instead they ended up making a terrible quasi remake of 2002's Juwanna Man. 

Riley Gaines, another example, is emblematic of the type of loser that publicly fights over this issue. She tied for 5th in a swim competition and turned hating trans women into her entire identity. All because she would have been in 5th place instead of sharing 5th place with another woman that happens to be transgender. 

No, it's not about fairness for women. They've just dusted off the exact same playbook they used to elect Bush for a second term, fear mongering over an "other" category, all just to win power. And, as an aside, those same lamentable fear mongers are using the exact Iraq War playbook in order to sell a war with Iran. 

[TwinsDr2021]

7 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

No, it's not about fairness for women.

Have you talked to any of the girls that played Champlin Park to ask them if they think it is fair? What does it matter if there is 1 or 1000 there will be girls affected by it, but I guess screw them and their feelings? In high school sports there is two divisions Boys/Open and girls, if you are born Male or good enough to compete go to the boys division, if you are born girl you play in the girls division unless good enough or want to try to compete in the boys division. Girls that have done this have been cheered on and encouraged for years.

The thing the other side forgets, how are you going to stop boys from making a mockery of this? I mean all you need is a boy or two to say they are girls and the will walk over every girls sport. 

[FargoFanMan]

1 hour ago, NYCTK said:

Seems like you didn't even make it to the second paragraph of the post. Kind of proves my point.

Willi Castro did something that drew national attention and you're confused why any Twins fan might think it topical. 

It's really, really easy NOT to click on a link if you don't like the headline. 

Happy Pride BTW

 

I made it to the second part. I’m not confused at all. The intention was for people to click on it. That’s why I said what I said. I grew up in minnesota and I’ve lived all over the world and witnessed many cultures and several extreme ways of life. Some ways that people around here would consider wrong, stereotypical or the ways of an uncivilized people. But it’s their way and I accepted that. I am still to this day amazed at how some people can be so condescending, triggered and outright bigoted in the other direction of the norm as people from the upper Midwest. Being tolerant works both ways. Not just left or right, republican or democrat Christian or atheist or whatever other means or triggering keyword you want to use to other another person. I read the article despite you thinking I’m a racist, uneducated or bigoted piece of ****. I figured that it would take on the connotation it did because the author intends it to be that way. And yes, happy pride month. Thank you for posting a picture of a cartoon bear waving a rainbow flag. That has shown me that you are obviously more tolerant than me in your smug better than thou vapid sense of humor. I hope you respond 20 more times arguing how great and tolerant you are as opposed to me and I hope all your friends laugh at your jokes about me and you all think I’m a ****ing moron. Because I wish you well and as another human being I still love you as a brother and a fellow Twins fan. Why? Because I was you once. I was everyone in here once. It doesn’t bother me anymore. I don’t root for political teams like football teams. I don’t want to impose my views as better than someone else’s just to put them down. I believe I am flawed as is every other human on the planet and I can understand different views and look at them rationally and logically and believe what I believe without having to tell everyone else and shame others. I think it’s silly and childish to be political on a baseball fan site. Many others don’t think so and this site is just another soapbox. That’s great for them and I sincerely hope that makes them happy at the very least cause lord knows if we could have just a little more happiness we’re all better. I understand that people on this site have different views and if I want to read about the Twins then maybe this isn’t the spot to read about them anymore. Great, I’ve figured that out and I thank every one of you over the years. It’s been fun and I wish you all the very best regardless. I’m gonna go read about the twins somewhere else. Thanks and I hope everyone has a wonderful day, month, year, life!

[NYCTK]

1 hour ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

Have you talked to any of the girls that played Champlin Park to ask them if they think it is fair?

Nope. And I bet you haven't either. 

I really don't care about Minnesota 4A softball results and, if you're being honest, neither do you. 

1 hour ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

if you are born Male or good enough to compete go to the boys division

I do mostly agree with this, relating more to Professional athletics. But this ignores probably the most valuable purposes of high school sports: camaraderie, teamwork, socialization. Taking this away from trans athletes seems counter productive to both the athletes that wish to compete, and also their communities that need to become more comfortable around that which they're unfamiliar. 

Like I said, no one outside of the very few people directly impacted care about the results for this years Minnesota State High School 4A softball tournament. And the girls that lost will either get over it like we've all had to get over losses, even some we consider unfair. Or if they're massive losers they'll make excuses their entire life about how one high school girl impacted them. 

Also, in this situation, let's just think it out a bit. So, let's say this girl was forced to play baseball with the boys instead of playing softball with girls. On its face, that isn't the biggest problem in the world I guess. But do you think a bunch of teenage boys are going to truly respect someone like Hunter Schaefer as one of their teammates? Which seems like the better option for a 16 year old girl? To play baseball with the boys and undoubtedly get teased relentlessly for their gender. Or to play softball with the girls where I'm not even sure how everyone is so sure of the birthed gender of this alleged transgender athlete, considering HIPAA and what not. 

1 hour ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

The thing the other side forgets, how are you going to stop boys from making a mockery of this?

Quite literally the only boy I have ever heard of trying to compete in women's sports is the POS that is basically in charge of the federal government, Stephen Miller, who infamously jumped into a girl's track meet, halfway through, in order to prove the athletic superiority of boys, like the massive bigoted loser that he is.  

There is no epidemic of boys wanting to compete against women, and there's no evidence men would rather win against women than lose against men. But even so, there are guide rails against this sort of fraud. 

So, I go back to my original comment that this is such a tiny issue, that while worthy of discussion, but is such a case-by-case series of events that needs no national attention, and certainly not regulation. 

[Linus]

Trans athletes is a complicated situation for which I have no right answer. One would need to understand the biology and physiology of the transition process at a minimum. The fact is there are an incredibly small amount of these situations. 
 

My daughter has a good friend who is a trans female. The amount of hatred, bigotry and discrimination she experiences daily would crumple most of us. This is happening to hundreds of thousands of people on a daily basis in our country. This is what I am concerned about and what I believe should get the most attention. 

[TwinsDr2021]

44 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Nope. And I bet you haven't either. 

I really don't care about Minnesota 4A softball results and, if you're being honest, neither do you. 

 

You would lose that bet, I live in a City that plays in their conference. My son's girl friend plays high school softball and competed against the pitcher. Now, she says it didn't matter they were going to lose to Champlin Park regardless of who pitched but she has plenty of friends on other teams that believe it is unfair because they thought they had a chance of winning if somebody else pitched. Plus they call Jefferson the state Champion, which isn't fair to the girls on Champlin because a few pretty great players and now have to listen to being called fake champions. 

Do I care about Minnesota 4A softball, not really, Do I care about the girls that had to play them?  I do, I also know my son's girl friends parents and many others are upset because they don't believe it is fair they are playing against a trans girl. The parents were upset that the school said they girls were not allowed to express their feelings if those feeling went against this. Is that OK to shut up girls? 

As for if this person was forced to play baseball with the boys, most likely they wouldn't have made the team, but if they did and the boys did what you said, they should/would be punished, but again you are saying this person's feelings are more important then the girls feelings. 

I find it sad how little empathy people have for girls. I have empathy of Marissa, she isn't doing anything wrong and is following the rules in front of her. I have empathy for her that there isn't a fast pitched open league, and that is probably the solution to sports that played different for boys and girls. I have empathy for her and her teammates (if she plays next year) on the spectacle it will be. 

[dingers]

Not a Twins fan but figured I'd add my insight: Castro is a registered Republican, per the Florida voter file. The eye-black was most likely unintentional

[NYCTK]

8 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

I find it sad how little empathy people have for girls.

I have a lot of empathy for the girls. Thankfully we know that you asked one directly how she felt about it and it apparently didn't matter much to her. 

 

10 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

I also know my son's girl friends parents and many others are upset

This seems to be the true story.

A bunch of parents that are living vicariously through their kids. Upset over an amateur sporting event. Mad their children were presented with an admittedly difficult challenge. Sadly, a challenge that the POTUS has given them tacit permission to express bigotry towards rather than show any empathy which you clearly value.

 

15 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

The parents were upset that the school said they girls were not allowed to express their feelings if those feeling went against this. Is that OK to shut up girls? 

High School administrations make a lot of mistakes so it's absolutely possible they erred in how they approached this. However, I'd be interested in hearing the actual instructions to the girls involved. There's a difference between being Shut Up and reminding athletes of a code of conduct that forbids certain speech based on gender, race, etc. 

 

18 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

but again you are saying this person's feelings are more important then the girls feelings. 

I don't recall saying that. 

[TwinsDr2021]

20 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

I don't recall saying that. 

Comments like this imply it.

Which seems like the better option for a 16 year old girl? To play baseball with the boys and undoubtedly get teased relentlessly for their gender.

girls that lost will either

Or if they're massive losers they'll make excuses their entire life about how one high school girl impacted them. 

Comments like this belittle girls feelings. And until people start listening to the women/girls and why they may object to this or how it makes them feel, there will never be a solution. Calling girls bigots, losers, complainers or anti-trans isn't furthering the conversation or helping resolve the issue it only divides people further. 

And by the way one of my daughter's best friends is a Trans women, and we have had many conversations about this subject they all have been respectful and IMO very constructive. She hates this argument about Trans girls in sports because there are so many other things that should be talked about, like understanding them, caring about them, respecting them for who they are and she says she understands that while she is a girl she isn't exactly like her other girl friends respects that. Have a good weekend.

[Schmoeman5]

4 hours ago, NYCTK said:

Seems like you didn't even make it to the second paragraph of the post. Kind of proves my point.

Willi Castro did something that drew national attention and you're confused why any Twins fan might think it topical. 

It's really, really easy NOT to click on a link if you don't like the headline. 

Happy Pride BTW

 

Just like it's real easy to tell others who may not agree what to do. I read 99% of the articles. I also read that Willis response was that he was unaware that he may have been making a statement regarding his eye black color scheme so I'll take his word. I noticed it that day and Pride awareness didn't enter my mind. I thought it was more to his countries flag and that's it. So let's try to make something connect to ones own wishes. Personally I could care less. If it was to celebrate Pride awareness, thats great. If it was just his choice for that day, thats okay too.

[NYCTK]

3 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

And until people start listening to the women/girls and why they may object to this or how it makes them feel

I agree with this. But you yourself, with direct access, noted how the girl directly affected didn't really care and the people that did were the parents.

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, NYCTK said:

I agree with this. But you yourself, with direct access, noted how the girl directly affected didn't really care and the people that did were the parents.

It's rather inconsistent to suggest we talk to / listen to these athletes and then when a girl (Riley Gaines) does express her dissatisfaction, you call her a "loser".  She is an elite athlete, intelligent and articulate.  You are on the 20% side of an 80/20 issue.   The vast majority of people understand there is absolutely no question that biological males have a big advantage.  Sports are supposed to be a fair competition.  If you have not noticed, there have been many polls and overwhelming majority find the solution very simple.  Athletes should compete against others of the same biological sex.  

BTW ... I saw an interview with Sarah McBride where she said pushing this type of 20/80 issue is counterproductive to advancing Trans rights and acceptance that she has championed as a Trans politician. 

[NYCTK]

10 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

you call her a "loser". 

Tbf, so is the transgender athlete she tied with, seeing as they both finished 5th. But the trans athlete didn't run off to find the nearest camera to constantly **** talk her opponent. 

Good for her I guess, thanks to her grift and a bunch of bigots she now commands a hefty speaking fee. And I do mean this literally. She initially correctly gendered her opponent, but shortly after was captured by the audience and now refuses to recognize transgender people as legitimate. 

23 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

She is an elite athlete, intelligent... 

She tied for fifth in a collegiate meet. And then threw a huge hissy fit about the person she tied with. 

She sucks. 

31 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

You are on the 20% side of an 80/20 issue. 

Sort of. About half of Gen Z women believe trans athletes should be able to compete with cis athletes. 

But even so, gay marriage wasn't favored by a majority when it became legal, nor was interracial marriage. I'm not swayed by the public opinion especially when there's a concerted effort by leading public figures to politicize it like we've seen. 

35 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

BTW ... I saw an interview with Sarah McBride where she said pushing this type of 20/80 issue is counterproductive to advancing Trans rights and acceptance that she has championed as a Trans politician. 

Important to note that the same people in power that claim it's about "fairness in sports" banned McBride from using the women's bathroom in congress and intentionally, consistently misgender her. Why? I'm sure they have some ******** excuse but we all know it's just bullying and cruelty. 

Hence why anyone paying attention can say that it's not about being fair. There are nuanced conversations to he had, absolutely. But Riley Gaines? Nancy Mace? The entire anti trans athlete push we've seen? It's straight up bigotry. 

[jkcarew]

Leave it ALONE. Or blog somewhere else. Either will work.

[Schmoeman5]

I notice during tonight's game, it appears that his colors of choice are black and yellow. I wonder if he's asking to be traded to the Pirates?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Celebrated at my local pride festival this morning. It was affirming, inspirational and heartwarming seeing my community come out in support!

Seeing the line out the “free mom hugs” tent was a gut wrenching reminder of what all this is really about.

whether Willi is an ally, advocate, or member of the community, or not, it doesn’t matter. It’s the love, respect and dignity we afford our fellow humans that matters.

happy pride month

[USAFChief]

2 hours ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Celebrated at my local pride festival this morning. It was affirming, inspirational and heartwarming seeing my community come out in support!

Seeing the line out the “free mom hugs” tent was a gut wrenching reminder of what all this is really about.

whether Willi is an ally, advocate, or member of the community, or not, it doesn’t matter. It’s the love, respect and dignity we afford our fellow humans that matters.

happy pride month

Concur.

Those that dont should be in the "free mom scoldings" line

 

[TheLeviathan]

On 6/20/2025 at 11:49 AM, FargoFanMan said:

I made it to the second part. I’m not confused at all. The intention was for people to click on it. That’s why I said what I said. I grew up in minnesota and I’ve lived all over the world and witnessed many cultures and several extreme ways of life. Some ways that people around here would consider wrong, stereotypical or the ways of an uncivilized people. But it’s their way and I accepted that. I am still to this day amazed at how some people can be so condescending, triggered and outright bigoted in the other direction of the norm as people from the upper Midwest. Being tolerant works both ways. Not just left or right, republican or democrat Christian or atheist or whatever other means or triggering keyword you want to use to other another person. I read the article despite you thinking I’m a racist, uneducated or bigoted piece of ****. I figured that it would take on the connotation it did because the author intends it to be that way. And yes, happy pride month. Thank you for posting a picture of a cartoon bear waving a rainbow flag. That has shown me that you are obviously more tolerant than me in your smug better than thou vapid sense of humor. I hope you respond 20 more times arguing how great and tolerant you are as opposed to me and I hope all your friends laugh at your jokes about me and you all think I’m a ****ing moron. Because I wish you well and as another human being I still love you as a brother and a fellow Twins fan. Why? Because I was you once. I was everyone in here once. It doesn’t bother me anymore. I don’t root for political teams like football teams. I don’t want to impose my views as better than someone else’s just to put them down. I believe I am flawed as is every other human on the planet and I can understand different views and look at them rationally and logically and believe what I believe without having to tell everyone else and shame others. I think it’s silly and childish to be political on a baseball fan site. Many others don’t think so and this site is just another soapbox. That’s great for them and I sincerely hope that makes them happy at the very least cause lord knows if we could have just a little more happiness we’re all better. I understand that people on this site have different views and if I want to read about the Twins then maybe this isn’t the spot to read about them anymor

---

e. Great, I’ve figured that out and I thank every one of you over the years. It’s been fun and I wish you all the very best regardless. I’m gonna go read about the twins somewhere else. Thanks and I hope everyone has a wonderful day, month, year, life!

 

[TheLeviathan]

On 6/20/2025 at 12:06 PM, Linus said:

Trans athletes is a complicated situation for which I have no right answer. One would need to understand the biology and physiology of the transition process at a minimum. The fact is there are an incredibly small amount of these situations. 
 

My daughter has a good friend who is a trans female. The amount of hatred, bigotry and discrimination she experiences daily would crumple most of us. This is happening to hundreds of thousands of people on a daily basis in our country. This is what I am concerned about and what I believe should get the most attention. 

Thank you for posting this.  The truth is....it is complicated.  Decisions on trans participation should be made on a case by case basis.

We already have weight classes, divisions based on school population size, and co-ed rules that vary widely depending upon the sport and the age of the athletes.  We make nuanced decisions about athlete participation all the time.  I'm not sure why this should be any different.

Other than the politics.  The politics are why we don't consider that very reasonable answer.  And it is those same politics that are causing some here to get very defensive.

[SAL]

Trans rights may be human rights, but so are the rights of biological females, and that includes the right to be safe. 

The problem with the term transgender is that it includes persons who have had their genitals changed, but also includes males who like to pretend they are a female. 

For example, there is no logical reason Riley Gaines and her teammates were forced to change in front of Lia Thomas, who exposed his male genitalia to the girls before every meet. 

What about the victims of rape and sexual assault, why should they have to be exposed to male genitalia while in a female locker room? What about their rights??

Before you reply with name-calling, listen to Riley Gaines' congressional testimony about what happened to her. If you are not upset by this, you do not support women's rights. 

[DJL44]

I will go on record that I'm against using eyeblack as makeup. It is odd seeing all the makeup MLB players wear on the field now. None of this is helping to cut down on the glare from the sun. It's probably making the sun even worse.

I also think it's funny that an account called "Dozier's Glorious Hair" might be protesting a bit too much. There might be a need for some introspection.

[NYCTK]

14 hours ago, SAL said:

listen to Riley Gaines' congressional testimony

Lol. No.