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I am going to share the email I received from the Single Action Shooting Society a month ago in its entirety because I feel it needs to be presented completely.
Near as I can tell, there was no public discussion or debate. The closest thing I could find in any forum was a discussion from two years back that had nothing to do with allowing trans people to compete in their chosen category but was really just an opportunity to expand on the ridiculous “I identify as an attack helicopter” trope.
To dissect this a little, it’s clear that the ladies categories exist to “level the playing field” based on the assumption that women are, by their nature, incapable of competing against men. Using the term “biological females” grates my teeth because phrases like that are so prevalent in the incel and pickup artist communities and, in this context, is already poisoning the well. And, really, do they have even the slightest idea about what happens to a body when it transitions? Do they think that men are transforming themselves into women to win, at best, a big-ass gaudy belt buckle?
Yea. Pretty much.
“For the first time in our history” makes it clear this is Culture War bullshit initiated by some snowflake manbaby who is squicked out by the entire concept of someone being different and is lashing out, emboldened by the administration’s eugenicist policies and certainly not because it is in any way about "fairness" and certainly not about "inclusion".
What kicked me in the teeth was the last statement that members are expected to “ respect each other’s dignity” and “Harassment, discrimination, or hostile conduct will not be tolerated.” This. . . THIS. . . when they are advancing a policy that is inherently disrespecting a person’s dignity and literally promoting harassment, discrimination, and hostility.
It is, of course, simply transphobic bullshit. I would bet good money that a trans woman has NEVER entered an SASS match in a ladies category. My expectation is that there are no trans women or men in the entire organization because, honestly, the toxicity of American gun culture is obvious to everyone.
Well, except those IN that culture. To them, they are the foundations of normalcy and those on the outside are deviants. Unamerican. Unpure.
And, it should come as no surprise to anyone, anywhere, how the voting turned out.
94% of the membership are bigots.
On one forum, where the results were posted and responded to with a certain repugnant amount of smugness, I was going to ask how they thought this would be enforced. Are all “ladies” wishing to participate in a Ladies Only category going to be asked to prove their gender? Will there be genital checks? Will a birth certificate be required? No, of course not. What will happen is what has has been happening when these rules are put in place. Some transvestigator will look at someone else and think they don’t look feminine enough. Then the accusation, the furor, the legal issues, and the ultimate realization that, no, this was not a trans woman or, in their eyes, a man dressing up as a woman to win a belt buckle, but was a CIS woman who just doesn’t fit the beauty standard of bigots. There will be no self reflection after that.
Didn’t get a chance to say that, though, as I was immediately thrown off the forum for saying trans women are women and trans men are men and that The Single Action Shooting Society will never get another dime from me.
I will never attend a regional or national competition. Local clubs that have matches don’t send any of their match fees up to the national level but, not to put too fine a point on it, 94% of the people in these local groups are bigots and, even before this, I felt uncomfortable participating knowing that virtually everyone around me hated me and everything I believe in.
Before becoming involved in cowboy action shooting, I owned a single period revolver. To participate requires two pistols, a rifle, and a shotgun (I have two, now). That’s a lot of guns and a lot of money. I don’t want to be dragged along by the Lost Cost Fallacy but I also actually enjoy shooting in competitions. CQB Brutality (and I’m going to a match next week) has a cowboy gun category and supports minorities and LGBTQ, but their matches are also much less often and much more expensive ($300 once or twice a year compared to $20 once a month).
Most clubs are also infused with toxic gun culture, so there is little likelihood of finding a local club to do such a thing independently.
That’s. . . . all. I am just disappointed and sad. And angry.
Dear SASS member,
The Single Action Shooting Society’s sport of Cowboy Action Shooting® has no men’s categories. All categories are “Open”, with additional age breakout & shooting style sub-categories.
In addition to the open categories, there are “Ladies only” category breakouts, designed to foster an environment in which women have the opportunity to participate in the shooting sport competition on a level playing field, only against other biological females.
Transgender females competing in women’s categories is a sensitive and complex issue involving legal, ethical, and social considerations. SASS, as a private organization and governing body of the sport must balance inclusion, fairness, legal compliance, and the concerns of its active membership. SASS is currently seeking legal counsel on anti-discrimination protections, the interests of cisgender women competitors, and evaluating its own mission and values.
SASS is a membership organization and, for the first time in our history, is asking its active membership body to vote on the issue to ensure the concerns and values of its members are considered.
Once the survey closes on April 30, 2025, SASS will seek legal counsel to ensure all available legal framework is considered prior to establishing the rule and policy regarding transwomen competing in any SASS lady category to maintain the integrity of the competition.
All members of the Single Action Shooting Society and competitors in the SASS Shooting Sports are expected to respect each other’s dignity and the intent of SASS’ protected categories. Harassment, discrimination, or hostile conduct will not be tolerated.
Please take a moment to cast your vote
The Single Action Shooting Society’s sport of Cowboy Action Shooting® has no men’s categories. All categories are “Open”, with additional age breakout & shooting style sub-categories.
In addition to the open categories, there are “Ladies only” category breakouts, designed to foster an environment in which women have the opportunity to participate in the shooting sport competition on a level playing field, only against other biological females.
Transgender females competing in women’s categories is a sensitive and complex issue involving legal, ethical, and social considerations. SASS, as a private organization and governing body of the sport must balance inclusion, fairness, legal compliance, and the concerns of its active membership. SASS is currently seeking legal counsel on anti-discrimination protections, the interests of cisgender women competitors, and evaluating its own mission and values.
SASS is a membership organization and, for the first time in our history, is asking its active membership body to vote on the issue to ensure the concerns and values of its members are considered.
Once the survey closes on April 30, 2025, SASS will seek legal counsel to ensure all available legal framework is considered prior to establishing the rule and policy regarding transwomen competing in any SASS lady category to maintain the integrity of the competition.
All members of the Single Action Shooting Society and competitors in the SASS Shooting Sports are expected to respect each other’s dignity and the intent of SASS’ protected categories. Harassment, discrimination, or hostile conduct will not be tolerated.
Please take a moment to cast your vote
Near as I can tell, there was no public discussion or debate. The closest thing I could find in any forum was a discussion from two years back that had nothing to do with allowing trans people to compete in their chosen category but was really just an opportunity to expand on the ridiculous “I identify as an attack helicopter” trope.
To dissect this a little, it’s clear that the ladies categories exist to “level the playing field” based on the assumption that women are, by their nature, incapable of competing against men. Using the term “biological females” grates my teeth because phrases like that are so prevalent in the incel and pickup artist communities and, in this context, is already poisoning the well. And, really, do they have even the slightest idea about what happens to a body when it transitions? Do they think that men are transforming themselves into women to win, at best, a big-ass gaudy belt buckle?
Yea. Pretty much.
“For the first time in our history” makes it clear this is Culture War bullshit initiated by some snowflake manbaby who is squicked out by the entire concept of someone being different and is lashing out, emboldened by the administration’s eugenicist policies and certainly not because it is in any way about "fairness" and certainly not about "inclusion".
What kicked me in the teeth was the last statement that members are expected to “ respect each other’s dignity” and “Harassment, discrimination, or hostile conduct will not be tolerated.” This. . . THIS. . . when they are advancing a policy that is inherently disrespecting a person’s dignity and literally promoting harassment, discrimination, and hostility.
It is, of course, simply transphobic bullshit. I would bet good money that a trans woman has NEVER entered an SASS match in a ladies category. My expectation is that there are no trans women or men in the entire organization because, honestly, the toxicity of American gun culture is obvious to everyone.
Well, except those IN that culture. To them, they are the foundations of normalcy and those on the outside are deviants. Unamerican. Unpure.
And, it should come as no surprise to anyone, anywhere, how the voting turned out.
Last month, SASS sent out a survey to all active members asking for each member to vote on the subject of continuing to allow transgender women to compete in the ladies categories. In an unprecedented member vote turnout, each member was given the opportunity to have their voices heard. The survey resulted in 93.84% of SASS members voting to limit the Ladies shooting categories to biological (at birth) females only.
94% of the membership are bigots.
On one forum, where the results were posted and responded to with a certain repugnant amount of smugness, I was going to ask how they thought this would be enforced. Are all “ladies” wishing to participate in a Ladies Only category going to be asked to prove their gender? Will there be genital checks? Will a birth certificate be required? No, of course not. What will happen is what has has been happening when these rules are put in place. Some transvestigator will look at someone else and think they don’t look feminine enough. Then the accusation, the furor, the legal issues, and the ultimate realization that, no, this was not a trans woman or, in their eyes, a man dressing up as a woman to win a belt buckle, but was a CIS woman who just doesn’t fit the beauty standard of bigots. There will be no self reflection after that.
Didn’t get a chance to say that, though, as I was immediately thrown off the forum for saying trans women are women and trans men are men and that The Single Action Shooting Society will never get another dime from me.
I will never attend a regional or national competition. Local clubs that have matches don’t send any of their match fees up to the national level but, not to put too fine a point on it, 94% of the people in these local groups are bigots and, even before this, I felt uncomfortable participating knowing that virtually everyone around me hated me and everything I believe in.
Before becoming involved in cowboy action shooting, I owned a single period revolver. To participate requires two pistols, a rifle, and a shotgun (I have two, now). That’s a lot of guns and a lot of money. I don’t want to be dragged along by the Lost Cost Fallacy but I also actually enjoy shooting in competitions. CQB Brutality (and I’m going to a match next week) has a cowboy gun category and supports minorities and LGBTQ, but their matches are also much less often and much more expensive ($300 once or twice a year compared to $20 once a month).
Most clubs are also infused with toxic gun culture, so there is little likelihood of finding a local club to do such a thing independently.
That’s. . . . all. I am just disappointed and sad. And angry.
