Although rare, there are people with genetic conditions (DSD) that make them non-binary in the truest sense of the word. For a man or woman who wants to differentiate him/herself, based on sexual preference or how they feel, and claim themselves among the actual non-binary group is truly offensive to those born with the condition. Dealing with cases like Caster Semenya isn’t straightforward and should be handled with fairness and dignity for everyone, but if a woman or man insists on a certain pronoun or claims they are a third gender, they need a reality check.
If we as a society are going to take transgender athletes in sports seriously, then Nikki Hiltz should not be allowed to compete in the women’s category because Nikki Hiltz is not a woman. If you’re saying Nikki Hiltz should still run with the women, it’s because you’re saying “look, we know Nikki Hiltz is actually really a woman and we’re just humoring Nikki Hiltz by referring to her as they and non-binary”.
You can’t have it both ways.
This is true. Women’s sports should be protected, but I don’t really care that Hiltz runs there as it’s not unfair.
But if we’re honest, as you stated, we all know that Hiltz is a woman.
I'm in the "college/pro sports categories should be biological, Nikki should compete with women so long as they aren't on T etc., unfortunately sports is a lightning rod for transphobes" camp, and I think the loudest and most telling silence in all of this is from many of the folks who are ok with trans women competing with females not saying a peep about intersex athletes who identify as women and are at least partially biologically female. The testosterone suppressant barriers give them a convenient excuse to not have to address the issue.