Transgender Athletes

How do I even start this article without offending at least one person? I'm pretty sure it;s an impossible feat, but I'm going to try anyway. To start, I'd like everyone to know that I am in total support of the transgender community. I respect transgender people as I do all people. I studied kinesiology and am also a personal trainer. I have some questions when it comes to competitive, athletic sports and transgender people. It's a hard thing to understand, since I am not transgender. All I know is what I've learned about the physiology of the human body.

To keep things relatively simple lets avoid intersex people and all other aspects except the physiological difference between being a genetic male or female. The reason why there are still male and female sectors in sports is because the male and female body, on a physiological level, are different. Men have certain advantages while females have other advantages built into their design. There are also respective disadvantages that come along with each gender.

I understand that transgender people often take hormones to appear more like the gender they identify with. In the world of athletics, that has previously been called doping, the use of drugs or hormones to improve their performance. That would disqualify any athlete of any gender in any competitive sport. Look at Russia and their current reputation in the eyes of the Olympic competitions. A transgender woman would still have more testosterone and more lean muscle mass than a non transgender woman. Theoretically, this would give them an unfair advantage

If you've been watch or listening, there has been a lot of talk in the news about where transgender people belong in the world of competitive sports. My very good friend Kay was competing in tennis on a professional level. She was one of the best, and in competition against transgender woman. She lost. The fact of this woman being transgender was revealed long after the match was over, and she was devastated. She felt cheated.

Knowing what I know about how the human body works, I feel that she was right to feel that it wasn't a fair match. A genetic male will have different physiology that a non genetic male. What I don't know is the messy science behind taking hormones to appear more like the sex a person identifies with and how this might effect their athletic performance.

On a humanistic level, I understand that if you feel like a man or a woman, no matter what gender you were assigned at birth, that's how you see yourself. Sometimes I feel that the very label of being transgender must seem unfair. I see how not being able to compete with the gender you identify with would feel like discrimination. And that is my main conflict here.

Whether you are transgender or not, whatever sex you were born comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Taking hormones and getting certain surgeries are effective in helping transgender people feel more like the person they want to be, and I think that's wonderful. Go for it. But how does it effect athletic capabilities? What if you aren't taking hormones? what if you're taking too much or not enough to change the quality of your athletic performance.

A non transgender female has a period every month, and that can be a drastic change in day to day activities for them. I know some transgender males who also have periods, but I have no idea what that would be like, especially if they are taking testosterone. A non transgender male has less body fat on average and can gain more lean muscle mass (usually) a little easier than a non transgender female, which would give them a huge advantage in athletic competition.

Since the world is slowly but surely forced to recognize transgender people as who they are, why cant they have their own competitive league. Should be four competitive sects, or five? Men, women, transgender men, transgender women and intersex. I really don't know much about being intersex, and for that I apologize.

Being athletic is a really important part of a lot of people's lives, and I don't feel that anyone should be denied the ability to compete on a professional level. However, now that the world is warming up to a broadening sense of what "gender" is, shouldn't there be more competitive categories? One for each type of athlete?

As I said before, I am all about being whoever it is that you feel you are, however you choose to do it. I don't like how being transgender is being accepted or rejected in the world of competitive sports. Something needs to change, but what would be the most fair way to include everyone fairly?

I see validity in the arguments from both sides of the street. I am torn on what side to stand on. When I feel that way about anything, I immediately think there needs to a paradigm shift. If I cant choose a side, the sides need to change. The way sports are divided into male and female competitors no longer fits our society. There are many transgender people out there who are amazing athletes, and they should be given their fair chance to shine.

What do you think? If you'd like to let me know how you feel about this issue, follow me on @misswendy1980. Please remember that none of this was intended to offend anyone. I am legitimately curious, and if I am wrong in any of my assumptions, feel free to let me know.

Until next time, dear readers. Be kind to yourself and one another. Respect your neighbor as you would want to be respected. Please enjoy the rest of your day, and feel free to click the heart if this piqued your interest. Tips are also greatly appreciated.