Sam Ponder backs Sage Steele after Megan Rapinoe’s trans ‘violence’ accusation

Sam Ponder backed Sage Steele on Tuesday after women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe claimed Steele’s words “directly leads to violence.”

“I don’t want to mince words about it,” Rapinoe told TIME. “Dave Chappelle making jokes about trans people directly leads to violence, whether it’s verbal or otherwise, against trans people.

“When Martina [Navratilova] or Sage [Steele] or whoever are talking about this, people aren’t hearing it just in the context of elite sports. They’re saying, ‘The rest of my life, this is how I’m going to treat trans people.’”

But lacking in those comments is the need for logical discourse, according to the pair of ESPN colleagues on their Twitter accounts.

“Sage says bio males shouldn’t compete in female sports and now she’s to blame for violence? This is an attempt to silence good-faith discussion and debate,” Ponder responded. “Disagree passionately, say she’s wrong (& why)… but to claim she is responsible for violence is absurd.”

Steele piggybacked off Ponder’s defense, agreeing that Rapinoe’s claims of incitement of violence were baseless and unfair.

“it’s absurd. And predictable,” Steele said. “This is what happens when ppl allow their emotions to get in the way of FACTS & SCIENCE. Esp when they’re fighting to keep a false narrative alive. You said it best after [Nancy] Armour attacked you: ‘biology is not bigotry’ #SaveWomensSports.”

“‘You’re taking a ‘real’ woman’s place,’ that’s the part of the argument that’s still extremely transphobic,” she said. “I see trans women as real women. What you’re saying automatically in the argument—you’re sort of telling on yourself already—is you don’t believe these people are women.”

Ponder’s response to Rapinoe is at least the second time she and Steele have defended each other as they are allied in their beliefs against the transgender-women-in-sports movement.

Steele similarly came to Ponder’s defense in May after Armour called Ponder a “bigot” in a USA Today article.

“Pathetic attack on a WOMAN who is simply fighting for other WOMEN in sports,” said Steele defending Ponder.

“Biology is not bigotry,” Ponder responded. “Loving people does not require the absence of boundaries.”