Transgender Sports

Sports competitions are majorly divided into male and female. The categorization tends
to affect transgender athletes and players as they are often left with no specific area in sports
where they can fit. Players who identify with genders that differ from the biological sex assigned
at birth often find themselves locked out or discriminated against because the sport’s governing
bodies have somehow sidelined their plight and needs. First, on average, men enjoy physical
advantages in terms of body strength and height compared to female athletes. Principally, this is
attributed to their levels of testosterone, which is produced among males at the onset of puberty
onwards. Separation is thus aimed at allowing that the games are fair and no player has a
competitive advantage over the rest. It is, however, important to ensure that there is inclusivity
and all athletes are allowed an opportunity to engage in sports regardless of their sexual
orientation.
First, trans athletes should be evaluated on a case by case basis with the aim of enhancing
inclusivity for all and ensuring that there is no unfair advantage. In ensuring that the concerns of
all stakeholders are considered, there is a need to measure the level of testosterone for all athletes
prior to shortlisting, and then an algorithm is used to determine their level of advantage. In sports
for children below puberty, such as the case at Pima County Parks and Recreation, the player
who identifies as female though the biologically assigned sex at birth is male should be allowed
to play since the level of testosterone is unlikely to be high. The tournament is only among ten
and eleven-year-olds. As such, the player does not pose any competitive advantage. In future,
however, the level of testosterone should be used, and if a female player’s level is too high based
on the algorithm being used to measure, then they should be allowed to participate in open
competitions as opposed to being in a female-only team. The “Save Women’s Sports Act” holds

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that women should not compete against players who identify as females but are biological males
due to biological advantages (Arizona House of Representatives, 2020). However, considering
case by case ensures that the organizers of tournaments rule out any such advantages before such
players are allowed to compete against women.
The decision of a trans athlete to take part in any competition should be based on the
facts of each case. Inclusivity can be enhanced by implementing ability-level divisions and
abolishing divisions that are based entirely on gender. The introduction of “open” divisions will
create an opportunity for trans athletes who seem to have an unfair competitive advantage over
women to take part in the sport without raising any controversies (Reynolds & Jahromi, 2021). A
tournament organizer can then decide the category a player fits, not based on their gender but
rather on their athletic ability. For fairness, athlete ability should be used to categorize payers as
either legible to play in the women’s or open categories. Such categories ensure that no player
feels that the other has a competitive advantage, and at the same time, the ground is level, and all
players are allowed an opportunity to engage in sports (Semerjian, 2018). Since the issue for
female trans athletes is their athletic ability as opposed to their gender, then having open
categories ensures if a certain tarns athlete is found to have a competitive advantage due to her
biological makeup, then they are allowed to participate in the “open” division where ability is
mainly dependent on talent and hard work.
Further, locker rooms that conform to the self-affirmed gender identities of trans athletes
should be introduced. In competitive sports, the locker room is a space where athletes are
allowed to be themselves. Having an inclusive space is vital for the well-being of all athletes,
regardless of their gender. This ensures that accommodative spaces are created, and restrictions
related to changing and locker rooms are lifted and thus ensuring that participation opportunities

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are not limited (Cunningham et al., 2018). The introduction of gender-neutral locker rooms will
ensure that female athletes are accommodated, and trans athletes, too, do not feel left out or
discriminated against by having no space set aside for them to change.
Overall, passing laws and introducing divisions based on athlete ability will not change
people’s attitudes towards trans athletes. As such, sensitization and awareness is necessary to
ensure that members of the public are accommodative and create a conducive social environment
for everyone, not just payers, to thrive regardless of their sexual orientation. Most people do not
have education regarding gender diversity. Also, there are so many stereotypes on the same, and
this adds to the discrimination that trans people face in different spheres in society. Thus,
protections and accommodations are important, but people within communities need to be
educated on the need to be supportive of trans people and ensuring that they do not discriminate
against them. This will ensure that even when players are engaging in open competitions or a
female team has a trans athlete; there is no fear of being bullied by other players because people
are accommodative. Overall, the inclusivity of trans athletes is necessary, and they too deserve
an opportunity to take part in sports.

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References

Arizona House of Representatives, 2020. Nancy Barto Introduces “Save Women’s Sports Act”;
Ensures Level Playing Field for Student Athletes. [online] Azleg.gov. Available at:
<https://www.azleg.gov/press/house/54LEG/2R/200124BARTOSAVEWOMENSSPOR
TS.pdf> [Accessed 5 August 2021].
Cunningham, G. B., Buzuvis, E., & Mosier, C. (2018). Inclusive spaces and locker rooms for
transgender athletes. Kinesiology Review, 7(4), 365-374.
Reynolds, A., & Jahromi, A. H. (2021). Transgender Athletes in Sports Competitions: How
Policy Measures Can Be More Inclusive and Fairer to All. Frontiers in Sports and Active
Living, 3.
Semerjian, T. Z. (2018). Making space: Transgender athletes. In Sex, Gender, and Sexuality in
Sport (pp. 145-162). Routledge.