A few weeks ago I wrote about a local controversy involving a transgendered cyclist competing at an elite level. The woman at the centre of that controversy, Michelle Dumaresq, dropped by my site and left a really classy comment:
Thanks for all the comments and discussion. Please don’t believe everything that you read in a newspaper. I am not 6’1″, I’m actuall just over 5’9″ and I DO NOT weigh 210 lbs. So much of this story has been blown outta proportion and twisted. I never raced as a male but I grew up riding the hardest trails in the world in Vancouver. When I finally did start racing it was after 20+ years of riding. I also did quite well racing in Canada but internationally was another story. In Canada #1, internationally I was #26.
Anyway, keep discussing.
It being the Internet and all, I guess I can’t guarantee that it’s not an imposter, but she sure sounds genuine.
DarrenBarefoot.com 
Why do we still discriminate against men/women?
Why can women participate in a PGA golf tournament, whereas men cannot participate in the female counterpart LPGA. Does that mean men are the elite and female are a lesser group?
I think groups should be based on capacity rather than gender. Weak men could compete with average women, and strong women compete with strong men. Sounds completely faire to me hehehehehe.
Just saw Part 1 on Logo. VERY interesting that the women who originated the petition were the second, third, and fourth place finishers in the race she won and would have stood together on that podium had they overturned her win. Sounds like a case of sour grapes to me.
As for the woman who had to wear a T-shirt proclaiming her womanhood while her boyfriend heckles Michele on her behalf, “Meow….got milk.”
I’d only like to say that these women who are behaving so very badly over Michelle are an embarassment to both genders! The boyfriend of the T-shirt wearer and herself should learn to behave themselves in public and not be asses!
Michelle is my hero! I saw her documentary film at the 2005 Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
and was saddened by the lack of support and understanding from her teammates.
I think is totally fair she competes with
women cyclists, because she IS a women!
It’s been a year since I saw that film and
I sure hope the discrimination is over!?!
I hope she is still riding & racing!
re Michelle Dumaresq–just watching
100% woman—
what is the difference between a body maturing with testosterone–and after maturity converting to female–and a female taking testosterone after maturing (growth stops/completed)without testosterone-and than taking it to bulk up and become bigger and stronger –would that be allowed in competition–would it be considered fair–the question isnt about legal status or conversion–that is a personal choice–its about doping a body for competitive advantage.the former soviet union had transgender athletes competing with born and matured females–there is a definate difference between maturing physically as a female and being converted after the body stops growing–
YOU ARE A TRULY A GREAT PERSON, AND I THINK YOU SHOULD KEEP IT UP. BECAUSE THAT WHO YOU ARE IS IMPORTANT THEN WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF YOU. IT ALSO GREAT THAT YOUR PARENTS ARE WITH YOU. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T HAVE THAT AND IT’S HARD TO CHANGE TO THE PERSON WHO YOU REALLY ARE, THEN PRETEND THAT YOU ARE A MAN. I HOPE YOU GET THIS OR READ THIS.
Michelle is a beautiful woman. She is a kick-@$$ rider and a great sport. She has endured so much not only as a rider but as a person. She has a great personality, warm caring heart and a competitive soul. I have competed with boys and I am a girl…does that make me weird? No it is just that I have the capacity and power to do so. Let us not forget that someone in your family, a neighbor, or a close friend may be battling the same issues but you may not be aware of it as there is a constant scrutiny of what you and the rest of society thinks of them. Please be open minded and accept everyone for who and what they are. Michelle is a great person…I only wish there were more strong determined women out there who are always on top of things.