You know it’s disappointing, but not surprising, that the Bainbridge Review has once again chosen to amplify voices that spread intolerance and misinformation. The recent op-ed attacking trans women isn’t just wrong—it’s harmful.

The author tries to make it sound like they’re just “standing up for biology,” but let’s be real: this isn’t about science. It’s about excluding people who don’t fit into their narrow idea of what a woman should be.

They claim that only people who can give birth are “real” women, which completely ignores the fact that plenty of women—cisgender and transgender—can’t or don’t have children. Are they not women too? Of course, they are. Womanhood isn’t defined by a single biological function.

This kind of thinking isn’t new. It’s the same outdated, exclusionary mindset that politicians like Ron DeSantis and Marjorie Taylor Greene push when they attack trans athletes or try to ban gender-affirming healthcare. It’s the same rhetoric that President Trump used when he signed an executive order banning trans women from sports—something the author proudly supports. These talking points that Christine Flowers makes aren’t about fairness or safety. They’re about control. They’re about deciding who gets to exist freely and who doesn’t.

And let’s not ignore the comparison the author makes between being trans and abortion rights—it’s a classic tactic used by people like Tucker Carlson and Matt Walsh, who frame every issue around their rigid, outdated views of gender and family. They pretend they’re defending “tradition” while really just trying to roll back progress and strip rights away from people who don’t fit their worldview.

But here’s the biggest issue: When a local newspaper like the Bainbridge Review publishes that kind of article, it’s not just sharing an opinion—it’s making a choice. They wouldn’t print an article arguing that interracial marriage should be banned, so why do they think it’s OK to print something that dehumanizes trans people? Hate doesn’t always look like slurs or violence. Sometimes, it looks like an article that sounds “reasonable” while telling an entire group of people they don’t exist.

I expect the Bainbridge Review to do better. If they’re going to continue to provide a platform for intolerance, they have a responsibility to amplify voices that promote tolerance, inclusion and respect. A truly balanced publication doesn’t just give space to those who seek to exclude others—it also ensures that those fighting for equality and dignity are heard.

Young trans people on Bainbridge Island deserve better. They deserve to grow up in a community that sees them, respects them and supports them—not one that debates their existence in the local paper. If the Bainbridge Review truly cares about fostering meaningful discussion, it must do more to reflect the values of an inclusive, welcoming community.

Derek Villanueva is a community leader of Bainbridge Pride