Making sacrifices for your beliefs and sticking up for what you believe in is admirable. The 18-year-old Colorado native and former high school wrestler Brendan Johnston is all too familiar with this. Brendan made a risky choice in 2018 that essentially put a stop to his high school wrestling career. He declined to compete in two state tournament matches against female opponents, citing personal and religious convictions as his justification.
In recent years, the question of whether it is fair to compete physically between adult males and adult girls has gained more and more attention. Many people think it’s unjust to expect men and women to compete on an equal footing because they are fundamentally different from one other, both biologically and in other ways.
Brendan objected to the thought of going up against Skyview High’s Jaslynn Gallegos in the state tournament’s opening round. He also declined to take part in his consolation match against Valley High’s Angel Rios in the third round as a senior at Colorado Springs’ Classical Academy. An interview with KDVR provided a Christian explanation of Brendan’s choice. He said he felt it was too violent and physically uncomfortable to wrestle with a girl. He added that his background and religious beliefs had influenced how he saw women’s roles and distinctions from men.
It’s critical to remember that Brendan’s choice has repercussions. He finished sixth in the tournament while Jaslynn and Angel finished fourth and fifth, respectively, as a result of not wrestling the two females.
While acknowledging Brendan’s decision, Jaslynn voiced her disappointment at not being able to challenge him. Her gender doesn’t define her ability; she views herself first and foremost as a wrestler. She is aware, nevertheless, that social judgments can still hinder her.
Brendan made a contentious decision that sparked debates and dissenting views. How do you feel about Brendan’s choice not to engage in a wrestling match with a female? We would be delighted to hear your opinions.
To learn more about Brendan’s choice and its effects, watch this video:
Michael Madsen speaks out following death of son Hudson
“Reservoir Dogs” and “Kill Bill” star Michael Madsen addressed the death of his son Hudson, who died of a gunshot wound to the head in what was reported a suspected suicide, in January 2022, according to the City and County of Honolulu Dept. of the Medical Examiner.
At the time of his passing, Hudson was 26.
The family confirmed the news in a statement to Metro which read: “We are heartbroken and overwhelmed with grief and pain at the loss of Hudson. His memory and light will be remembered by all who knew and loved him. We ask for privacy and respect during this difficult time.”
At the time, they didn’t make any additional comments as they asked from the media to respect their privacy.
Later, Madsen opened up about his son’s passing through a statement released by The Los Angeles Times.
“I am in shock as my son, whom I just spoke with a few days ago, said he was happy — my last text from him was ‘I love you dad,’” the 64-year-old actor said.
“I didn’t see any signs of depression. It’s so tragic and sad. I’m just trying to make sense of everything and understand what happened,” he continued. “He had typical life challenges that people have with finances, but he wanted a family. He was looking towards his future, so it’s mind blowing. I just can’t grasp what happened.”
Madsen, however, is said to believe that his son was facing struggles after he joined the army because he was mocked after he asked for therapy for his mental issues. Hudson had one deployment to Afghanistan from August 2018 to January 2019 while stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado.
Hudson was married to wife Carlie and according to their social media, the two lived in Hawaii. According to Madse, his late son’s marriage “was going strong.”
We are very sorry for the loss. Rest in peace, Hudson.
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