Yes, it can be a political arguement but it can be a legal and cultural one too and why not.. Much like the workplace where equal pay or equal work alludes females the same of equal pay for equal play alludes females too in sports.  MMA, tennis and golf seem to be the exceptions. 

" If women want equality they can compete against men - they don't" You seem not understand why pro sports, Olympics and amateur sports administration seperate the sexes, ages and other factors into various competition levels. Different than the workplace isn't it?

"don't expect the taxpayer or a men's league to have to subsidize it."  Taxpayer funding depends on the NSO and countries. In Canada, NSO, PSO and clubs get taxpayer funds. In the USA, they don't as all sports are under their Olympic body who gets sponsors.

The future model for pro sports will be what UEFA and other sports there are doing and if it involves men's subsidizing the women or reverse, thats the owners choice for the right reasons.