More and more conversations about trans athletes participating in professional sports have been emerging in the past weeks. Following ESPN’s tribute to women in sports for Women’s Month, Riley Gaines expressed her frustration against the sports channel when they featured Lia Thomas, a trans swimmer who Gaines competed against last year. This is only one of the recent issues being brought up to support the movement for trans athletes to have their own division in sports. But the question is, would this benefit all athletes and professional sports?
Riley Gaines is furious at ESPN for including Lia Thomas in segment for Women’s History Month
For the month of March, women are celebrated in different fields and organizations, including sports. Riley Gaines, a former swimmer for the University of Kentucky, has openly expressed her frustration at sports channel ESPN.
Lia Thomas is not a brave, courageous woman who EARNED a national title. He is an arrogant, cheat who STOLE a national title from a hardworking, deserving woman. The @ncaa is responsible.
If I was a woman working at ESPN, I would walk out. You're spineless @espn #boycottESPN https://t.co/DF3n5RWsmV
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) March 26, 2023
In one of her most recent tweets, Gaines slammed the channel and called them spineless. She ended her tweet with the hashtag #boycottESPN. What fueled this reaction from Gaines was due to the fact that she lost to Lia Thomas at the NCAA championships last year.
- During last year’s NCAA swimming competition, openly trans swimmer Lia Thomas won the 500 freestyle competition. At the 200 freestyle, both Thomas and Gaines shared a podium together when they tied for fifth.
- Gaines also misgenders Thomas in her tweet, stating that “He is an arrogant, cheat who STOLE a national title from a hardworking, deserving woman.”
- Following her encounter with Thomas in 2022, Gaines has been actively protesting against the inclusion of trans people in professional sports. One of her main reasons why they shouldn’t be allowed to compete is it is physically unfair for AFAB (assigned female at birth) athletes like her.
- Similar to Gaines, other like-minded people also use this as a reason to separate trans athletes from the usual divisions. However, would this really be an effective way for professional sports to continue from here?
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Should trans athletes have their own league or division in professional sports?
The question of whether trans athletes should have their own league or division in professional sports is not black and white. Also, it is a controversial topic which opens up rather uncomfortable conversations for all parties involved.
- On one side, we have those who argue that trans athletes having their own division in sports is a good thing. It would help promote fairness and inclusivity for transgender people in athletics. Another thing it will solve is cisgendered women thinking trans women always have unfair advantages in sports.
- The other side of the argument brings up a fair and valid point that we should not separate trans athletes into their own divisions. By doing so, it only reinforces harmful stereotypes and the discrimination faced by trans people on a regular basis.
As we said, the answer to this question is not simple at all. There are a lot of factors to consider before organizations come up with a decision. But before any of that, let us debunk claims about trans people (particularly trans women) having unfair advantages in sports.
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Do transgender people have unfair advantages in sports?
Joanna Harper is a transgender woman who competes in running sports while actively conducting research on the athletic performance of trans athletes like herself. In an article published last August 2022, Harper shared her personal experience as a trans athlete in competitive running.
- Harper acknowledges that it is possible for transgender women to have physical advantages over cisgender women since they have previously been exposed to testosterone. However, she also brings up a counterpoint that these advantages are not a one-size-fits-all answer to the question. Trans women athletes can alleviate this by undergoing hormone therapy.
- Hormone therapy is also one of the guidelines required of transgender athletes before competing. Harper mentions that this is backed by the International Olympic Committee’s requirements before trans athletes can compete.
- There are also limited studies proving this when looking at elite athletes who take part in competitions.
It depends on what type of sport we’re talking about
Trans athlete Joanna Harper has acknowledged the possibility of other trans athletes having physical advantages over cis athletes. However, this is on a case-by-case basis as not all sports are the same.
Wrestling and weightlifting are two sports wherein an athlete’s strength is significant. This is when trans athletes, particularly trans women, can possibly have an advantage since they have been previously exposed to testosterone.
On the other hand, sports like running, cycling, and swimming test an athlete’s endurance and cardiovascular fitness. As of writing, there are little to no evidence suggesting that trans athletes in these sports have an advantage over their opponents.
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Personal take: giving trans athletes their own division or league is more harmful than helpful
With all that said, we go back to the question at hand: should trans athletes have their own league in sports?
Personally, I believe separating trans athletes and giving them their own category is more harmful than it is beneficial. It sends out the wrong message that transgender people are somehow not at all normal, according to society’s standards.
- It would also be discriminatory against trans athletes since they are receiving different treatment based on their gender identity.
- It is also discriminatory and transphobic to assume that transgender athletes, specifically trans women, are males disguising themselves so they can take over women’s sports.
- However, more studies should also be carried out for athletic organizations to come up with inclusive policies. It’s also best if they include policies that would be a win-win for everyone involved.
Trans men are men, trans women are women, and trans people are people
If we take a closer look at trans athletes like Lia Thomas, we can see a human being who just wants to do what she loves. For Thomas, what she loves is to take part in competitive swimming.
- Thomas revealed that she is aware of the comments about her participation in collegiate swimming. She knew people would assume she only transitioned so she could win in the women’s category for the sport she loves. However, Thomas remained optimistic and told ESPN that the reason she transitioned is “to be happy.”
The same goes for those who identify as transgender. Whether they are planning to transition, currently transitioning, or have transitioned, it is really all about embracing who they are. Not to mention how it takes a ton of psychological, emotional, and physical strength to transition.
No one transitions just because. We should still look at our transgender peers as human beings because that’s who and what they are. In the world of sports, they are also human beings. All athletes deserve fair treatment and respect, regardless of what they identify as.
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What is your opinion on transgender athletes participating in competitive sports? Do you think it’s best if organizations create an entirely new category for them? Or would it be more progressive if more policies were set into place to make it more inclusive? Let us know your honest thoughts in the comments below. For more content, stay with us, here at Spiel Times.
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