SPORTS

We are all individuals wanting to fit in with our social groups. The argument that transgender youth should not play sports because it is unfair is not based on hard science any more than hard science can explain why some of us like sports and others don’t. What is the hype about trans females having an advantage over cis females? Do studies support this? 

At UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, Dr. Stephen Rosenthal, during an interview in 2014, posited the ethical question, “How do you assign someone a gender?” In an interview with Joel Baum, senior director of Gender Spectrum, this same year stated, “We have plenty of rules but not enough roles.” We need to make room for roles.

Many trans youth are on hormone blockers, thus preventing changes in their bodies to avoid undesirable traits and are reversible. However, youth on puberty blockers should undergo bone density testing. With the onset of prepubertal development, blockers afford youth the time to adjust. These hardly would be considered performance enhancement treatments. As they get older, youth may opt to begin gender-affirming hormones. Anyone starting hormone treatment must have lab draws to ensure that the hormones are within safe parameters. Hormones are potent agents; therefore, lab monitoring is essential to avoid medical complications. Medical complications are hampered by other health diagnosis and disorders. 

Performance enhancement treatments or doping are illegal in sports. According to American Family Physician in a July 15, 20201 editorial, athletes can qualify for therapeutic exemptions. These therapeutic exemptions range from treatments for asthma, endocrine deficiencies, and inflammatory diseases. READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE:

There isn’t any research supporting the argument that trans females have an athletic advantage during any stage of undergoing gender-affirming treatment or surgery. We need more evidence-based research.

The authors recommend that policies restricting transgender people in sports need revisions to include transgender individuals.

There have been discussions with some individuals supporting trans sports based on gender identity.

Most of us grew up in a binary world with male and female representations dominating gender roles. However, throughout history, some individuals have reported they don’t fit either presentation, and we refer to this group of people as gender diverse (GD).

Some GD people seek some masculinizing or feminizing forms of treatment and not necessarily surgery. Where do these individuals fit in  sports?

Some people are intersex, and they, in turn, may or may not identify as transgender individuals, seek gender-affirming treatment, or opt-out of any form of treatment. Not all intersexual people identify as transgender, just as transgender people are not all intersex. Some transgender people cannot take hormones for various reasons, and others may never seek surgery.

If we have trans individuals who are not able to receive hormones the argument that transgender youth should not play sports may very well be a sticking point for those who are not receiving hormones.

Endocrine studies are far more complex, and the average layperson does not necessarily understand these complexities. We need to turn to the medical professionals who research and work with the transgender population to provide us with guidelines.

World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) is one of the largest international networks. Members range from the medical to the mental health field and offer academic research, guidance, referral sources, evidence-based medicine, care, policy, research, and education in transgender health.