Transgender Inclusion In Sports
March 31st is International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) and also marks the end of Women’s History Month. Trans women and girls have always been a part of women’s history, are making history today, and will be an integral part of future women’s history. Yet, states across the country are telling these women and girls that they are not, that they cannot compete in sports, and are policing their bodies. These state legislatures are trying to erase these women and girls. Codifying anti-trans sentiment puts trans lives further at risk. In the last few months, state legislatures throughout the country have been actively working on anti-trans legislation targeting the welfare, rights, dignity, and existence of trans people. These laws seek to ban trans women and girls from sports and deny them healthcare: in Arkansas, health care providers may be able refuse to treat trans youth; in Alabama, it could become a felony to provide gender-affirming care to trans youth; and, in South Dakota, a state registry of youth athletes based on their bodies is to be created.
As our members and Board have reaffirmed over the past year, PPTC strives to be an inclusive community where everyone is welcomed and respected, and have committed to listening and learning in order to promote and further diversity, equity, and inclusion in our club and the broader community. On this year’s TDOV we encourage our fellow members to further educate themselves on becoming better allies for trans people and invite you to read through the resources compiled below. We also encourage our fellow members to attend the April general membership meeting where our guest speaker will be discussing current and recent events regarding transgender people in competitive running, her own story, and more specifically the on-going panic about high school and college trans athletes.
A. The Science of Transgender Identity
This article explores how claims that transgender girls have an athletic advantage are unfounded. It also discusses how proposed legislation restricting the competition of transgender girls in sports can be damaging to trans athletes.
This article discusses the science behind gender determination and concludes that gender identity is linked to biological causes.
B. General Facts about Trans Athletes and Sports
Facts on Trans Inclusion in Athletics
This fact sheet lists facts about transgender athletes and discusses the dangers of policies that contravene these facts.
This is a video interview with Lauren Lubin and discusses being a competitive runner as a gender-neutral person.
This article discusses the common misconception of some former competitive athletes that allowing trans women to compete in women’s athletics would open the door to cisgender men fraudulently posing as a trans athlete to gain an advantage in athletic competitions.
C. State-level and Trans Youth
While LGBTQ+ equality is making gains at the federal level, state lawmakers are seeking to restrict the rights of the community, particularly transgender people. Earlier this month, states across the country have introduced 37 bills that are aimed at the general LGBTQ+ community and 71 bills that target transgender people. These bills include restricting transgender athletes from participating in sports, preventing gender-affirming procedures, and religious freedom. The article further explores these bills and the harm they could impose.
A review of The Center for American Progress’s report on the benefits and vitality of allowing trans youth equal participation in sports. Some benefits include: increased participation in sports, increased feelings of safety, lower instances of suicide attempts, less anxiety and depression, higher self-esteem, etc.
As Alabama’s state legislature moves towards passing a bill that will ban hormone treatment, puberty blockers, and hormones or surgery for transgender minors, these individuals and their families face the havoc it will wreak on their lives. State Senator Shay Shelnutt, the sponsor of the bill, admitted that he has “never spoken to a transgender youth”. Meanwhile, police sergeant, David Fuller pleas with the legislatures not to pass the bill as the healthcare his transgender daughter received kept her alive.
Missouri dad’s testimony against transgender sports ban goes viral: ‘Let them have their childhoods’
A dad who has a transgender daughter, talks about the harm of forcing her to wear boys clothes, etc. and restricting her from being herself. He originally felt that he was right to make his daughter keep her hair short and wear boys’ clothes, but he eventually saw how it was negatively impacting her. He notes that his daughter is now happy and how playing on girls’ team sports has helped her. He pleads with lawmakers to withhold from passing the anti-trans bill.
U.S. Education Department Cuts Federal Funding to States with Transgender Athletes - news articles
Betsy DeVos Tells Connecticut: Ban Transgender Athletes, Or Say Goodbye To Your Federal Funding
In May 2020, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos declared that if Connecticut continued to let trans girl compete with cisgender girls, federal education funding would be pulled. This statement was made on the basis that it is a “violation of federal law” to allow transgender girls to compete with cis gender girls. The ACLU disagreed saying that Title IX protects trans girls and their participation in girls sports. The article highlights the various interpretations of Title IX, the lawsuit in Connecticut against two high performing trans athletes, and how it is impacting trans youth and girls sports.Transgender sports inclusion violates others’ rights
Another article from May 2020, this further explores the federal lawsuit against Connecticut that focuses on two transgender girls who competed in girls’ high school track and won 15 state titles between the two of them. The athletes are both undergoing hormone treatment which puts them on the same playing field as the other female athletes. One of the girls leading the complaints against these two trans athletes, outraced one of them twice in eight days for state titles. Connecticut, the ACLU, and others continue to protect and stand with the trans athletes.Feds Remove Support from CT Lawsuit Limiting Trans Athletes
A year after the lawsuit against transgender girls competing in girls sports was filed, the Justice Department and the Educational Department’s Office for Civil Rights removed their support of the case. Connecticut continues to support and protect its transgender athletes.
D. National College Athletics Association (NCAA)
NCAA Transgender Handbook
A handbook/guide on how to provide transgender athletes with equal and fair access to collegiate athletics. The handbook provides an overview of trans athletes, competitive equity, benefits of including trans athletes in athletics, hormonal treatments, etc. and debunks myths.Nearly 550 College Athletes Demand NCAA Pull Championship
Close to 550 college athletes from 85+ schools wrote and signed a letter urging the NCAA to pull championships and events from states that are attempting to pass laws that bar trans athletes from participating in college and youth sports. While the NCAA states that they are “closely monitoring the state bills that impact transgender athlete participation” they have stopped short of pulling championships and events in these states.
E. Trans Athletes in Professional Sports
This article tells the story of Renée Richards who is the first known transgender athlete to compete in a professional sport. Following gender reassignment surgery and a lawsuit against the USTA, she competed in the U.S. Open. The article also discusses her current unexpected stance on transgender women competing in women’s sports.
This website links the professional sports leagues that have formal policies on the participation of transgender athletes.
F. Organizations
The organization, Transathlete, pulls together existing information about trans inclusion in athletics in one central location, and breaks information down into easy-to-reference areas (i.e., K-12, college, recreation leagues, policies by organization) to help students, coaches, and administrators find what they need.
The organization, Funders for LGBTQ Issues, works to increase the scale and impact of philanthropic resources aimed at enhancing the well-being of LGBTQ communities, promoting equity, and advancing racial, economic and gender justice.
G. Guides
The following are helpful resources that can be read and referenced while becoming a better ally to trans people. Being informed and becoming a better ally is the first step in changing the culture and making our communities a safer and more inclusive place for all people regardless of their gender and presentation.
PPTC is a diverse and supportive team. We want to celebrate the diversity of our club and membership. We welcome and encourage everyone to share their stories with us.
Text by: The Diversity Committee & Blog Team
Image by: Design Committee
Edited & Produced by: The Blog Team & Diversity Committee