From Monty Python to the Prison Cell: The Reality Behind the Roleplay

In 1979, the comedians of Monty Python released the film Life of Brian. In one of the most famous scenes, the character Stan says, "I want to be a woman… call me Loretta." The audience laughed because at the time it seemed absurd: a man suddenly being recognized as a woman solely based on a statement. It was satire, intended to mock logic that contradicts itself.

More than forty years later, what was once unthinkable and comedic has become part of serious legislation and policy. In several countries, people can legally change their gender simply by making a declaration. This has far-reaching consequences: from sports competitions to prisons, from medical records to language use. What was once a joke is now a legal and societal issue with direct implications for safety, equal opportunities, and women's rights.

In recent years, a societal debate has emerged that is becoming increasingly heated: the impact of so-called "self-identification" of men as women on women's rights, safety, and fair competition. While many advocate that trans rights are equivalent to human rights, reality shows that self-identification policies allow men to enter women's categories unchecked-with far-reaching and troubling consequences.

Prisons: From Safety to Danger

There are several documented cases that raise concern. Katie Dolatowski, a person who is biologically male but identifies as female, was able to reside in a women's shelter under false pretenses, despite being a convicted pedophile. Her presence in a safe environment for women and children caused fear and trauma among abuse survivors. Her placement in Cornton Vale, a women's prison in Scotland, also sparked major controversy and protests, particularly because she had been convicted of sexual offenses against young girls.

The case of Janiel Verainer, a 63-year-old convicted pedophile who identifies as a little girl and appeared in court wearing childlike clothing and a sweatshirt that read "I am mentally 3-7 years," highlights the vulnerability of the system. Despite his serious convictions and violations of a protection order, the court allowed him to present this identity, which legal experts say mocks the justice system and deeply harms the victims.

The case of Isla Bryson, also biologically male but identifying as female, illustrated how self-identification policies in Scottish prisons blur the lines between male and female facilities. Despite her double rape convictions, she was temporarily placed in a women's prison until political pressure forced her removal. This is not an isolated case: studies and testimonies from prison staff and female inmates report biologically male individuals identifying as female to gain access to women's cells, often with the intent to commit sexual harassment and violence.

These examples raise questions about the impact of current gender identity policies on the safety of vulnerable women and girls in prisons. Individuals who are biologically male but identify as female are thereby granted access to women's prisons, with all the associated risks. This is not a theoretical problem: there are multiple documented cases of biologically male individuals with a history of sexual offenses being placed in women's cells under the guise of transgender identity, where they threaten and traumatize vulnerable inmates.

It is also important to emphasize that being a woman is not only a matter of identity but also of biological reality. Women are born with a unique body that allows menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause-experiences that men, even if they identify as women, cannot have. A person born with male biological characteristics cannot become pregnant, give birth, or experience the physical and hormonal changes of womanhood in the same way. These biological differences lie at the core of what it means to be a woman and explain why many women wish to protect their own bodies and life experiences.

Biological Differences in a Medical Context

Biological differences between men and women are not only relevant to identity or social experiences but are also crucial in medical care.

Recent research shows that ignoring these biological differences not only has negative consequences for women's health but also causes enormous economic damage. In Europe, for example, systematically underestimating and mistreating female-specific complaints, such as severe menstrual pain and menopausal symptoms, is estimated to result in economic losses of up to €750 billion. This "normalization of female complaints" leads to misdiagnoses, ineffective treatments, and unnecessary repeated doctor visits. It also means that medical science still often uses men as the default, resulting in inequality in healthcare and even worse outcomes for women. This underscores the importance of sex-specific research and care, an issue that politicians and scientists are increasingly calling attention to.

For example, women often experience atypical symptoms during a heart attack, such as nausea, fatigue, back pain, or shortness of breath, while men more frequently report the classic chest pain. This difference in presentation means that doctors and healthcare providers need to know whether they are dealing with a biologically male or female patient in order to make the correct diagnosis and provide timely treatment.

If medical records and communication are made gender-neutral without noting the biological background, misdiagnoses and delayed treatments can result. Hormones, anatomy, and medication also respond differently: dosages, side effects, and risks for certain conditions vary between biological men and women. Therefore, accurate medical information is essential—not only based on gender identity but specifically on biological sex.

Realism versus Ideology

It is important that medical care takes both biological facts and gender identity into account to provide the best possible treatment. When these are not properly aligned, patient safety risks can arise. This is not about denying someone's identity, but about acknowledging the physical reality on which medical decisions must be based.

A transgender woman (biologically male) may identify as female, but her body responds differently—for example, during a heart attack-than that of a biological woman. If doctors are not allowed to record or use these biological differences, care becomes suboptimal, and lives can be put at risk.

A Realistic Approach

Respect for both identity and biology must go hand in hand. Medical records should always include both gender identity and biological sex. This is not discrimination but essential for providing proper, safe care.

In acute and emergency situations, biology must take precedence. Identity influences how a person is approached, but it does not change the body's physical function and response.

Policies should allow transgender individuals to be themselves without compromising medical accuracy, safety, or the rights of others.

What is striking and significant is that the reverse does not occur: there are no known cases of women transitioning to men and then entering men's prisons to assault men. This clearly demonstrates that the problem is not symmetrical, but that the biological differences between men and women—and the associated potential for power and violence—play a decisive role in the safety risks within prisons. This difference is often ignored or downplayed by proponents of self-identification, but it is essential to acknowledge for a fair and safe implementation of gender policies.

Sports: Unfair Competition and Lost Titles

In the world of sports, the phenomenon of men suddenly identifying as women is also a source of heated debate. Lia Thomas, once an average male swimmer, won nearly everything in women's swimming competitions after her transition. Her physical advantages, such as muscle mass and lung capacity, cannot be fully undone by hormone therapy alone, causing many female athletes to see their chances vanish.

Also in Australia, Hannah Mouncey, a 1.90 m tall, 230-pound transgender handball player, leads the women's team to victory—a scenario in which natural differences in strength and size impact athletic equality.

These cases highlight a fundamental problem: the protective boundary between men's and women's sports is being blurred, causing women who have invested years in training and competition to face unfair competition and lose their titles and opportunities.

Language and Care: The 'Inclusive' Unraveling of Womanhood

In addition to sports and prisons, everyday language is increasingly being mixed with "gender-neutral" terms, such as "chestfeeding" instead of breastfeeding and "frontal birth" instead of vaginal delivery. Government-supported reports, such as those from the LGBT Foundation, advise healthcare institutions to use these terms to accommodate transgender pregnant individuals.

The push for inclusivity here leads to a dismantling of clear, biological womanhood in both language and practice. It strips women of their own language and space and creates confusion in areas like medical care, where biological differences are essential.

Activism and Ethics: A New Standard Demanded by Controversial Figures

The involvement of individuals such as Sophie Grace Chappell, a transgender philosopher who openly stated that a slight increase in female murders under self-identification "wouldn't matter," in drafting ethical guidelines for therapists, raises serious concerns. Many therapists fear that gender ideology will overshadow professional standards, further jeopardizing the rights and safety of women.

Conclusion: The Fight for Women's Rights in the 21st Century

The rise of self-identification policies opens doors for men to enter female categories unchecked—in prisons, on sports fields, and in healthcare settings—with often harmful consequences for biological women. It represents a fundamental clash between the desire to grant rights to transgender individuals and the necessity of protecting women from abuse of power, inequality, and insecurity.

Women's rights, once achieved through decades of struggle, are at risk of being undermined by a new ideal that, in theory, seeks to be inclusive but, in practice, erodes the biological reality and safety of women. It is time for an honest debate in which the rights of all parties are respected—but not at the expense of women's safety, opportunities, and dignity.

A Factual Approach is Essential for Careful Assessment

This essay is based on facts, figures, and concrete real-world examples, not assumptions or emotional arguments. Statements like "Women could also enter men's prisons to assault men" are often made, but they are strong generalizations lacking any evidence. There are simply no statistics, reports, or documented cases to support this. Had such an event occurred, it would have made global news. It is therefore crucial to distinguish facts from feelings, emotions, and ideological beliefs.

It is also important to recognize that individuals wishing to change sex—whether men becoming women or women becoming men—should do so at an appropriate age. Not in childhood, because children lack the maturity to make significant life choices, such as voting, driving, or drinking, and because the long-term consequences of such interventions are substantial.

Considering separate categories for transgender individuals in sports is seen by some as a possible way to ensure fair treatment and address concerns about physical differences. This is not exclusion, but a way to protect the rights of all involved—including transgender individuals and biological women—within a legal and ethical framework.

Closing Remark: Love, Justice, and Safety for Everyone

It is crucial to emphasize that concerns about safety, fairness, and biological reality do not mean that all transgender individuals should be seen as criminals or people who abuse the system. This essay aims to provide a nuanced view of the complex discussion around gender identity, based on facts, figures, and real cases.

At the same time, we must acknowledge the hard, painful reality: in Colombia alone, in 2024, as many as 175 LGBTIQ+ individuals were murdered—the highest number in Latin America—averaging nearly one victim per day. In the first months of 2025, an additional 43 murders were reported.

Everyone deserves love, justice, and safety—regardless of how "different" they may appear. Instead of polarization, we need nuance, compassion, and policies that ensure both safety and human rights.

This debate requires both compassion and realism. We must be open to the complexity of sex and identity, without losing sight of biological facts and the safety of women. Only by speaking honestly, respectfully, and factually can we work together toward a society that is truly inclusive and just for everyone.

Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools