For decades, the status of transgender athletes in competition has been a topic of intense controversy. These athletes have always faced challenges to compete, primarily if they competed before transitioning. Some individuals have endured court cases to compete, while others have been turned away altogether. In both situations, legal officials, sport federations and the public have been asked to consider this question: should transgender athletes be allowed to compete in the category that aligns with their gender identity?
One of the first openly transgender athletes to compete was tennis player Renee Richards. Born with the name Richard Raskin, she was known to the public as an accomplished tennis player and renowned eye surgeon. In 1975, she publicly transitioned, undergoing gender reaffirmation surgery and changing her name to Renee Richards. Later that year, she was turned away from the U.S. Open when she attempted to participate in the women’s category. Richards proceeded to sue, and in 1977, the Dr. Renee Richards vs. The United States Tennis Association case was ruled in her favor, allowing her to compete in the 1977 U.S. Open in the women’s draw. Renee Richards’ case was only the start of a tremendous legal movement led by transgender athletes to ensure fair competition for all.
In 2023, Becky Pepper-Jackson, a transgender 11-year-old girl, sued the state of West Virginia regarding the 2021 law that prohibited transgender students from participating in the competitions aligning with their gender identity. Her case eventually reached the Supreme Court, where the court ruled that she could temporarily participate in the girl’s cross-country team at her school. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, however, was vehemently against this order, stating, “It’s just basic fairness and common sense not to have biological males play in women’s sports.” Pepper-Jackson’s case was eventually decided by Charleston, West Virginia Federal District Court Judge Joseph R. Goodwin, who ruled against her. Although this case was not given the ruling many were hoping for, it proved that the legal system is conflicted on this issue, but also willing to make change. The Supreme Court allowed Pepper-Jackson to participate in the girl’s sports teams, and despite this being temporary, her case made a huge impact on how people viewed transgender athletes.
Starting in 2016, the International Olympic Committee released new guidelines regarding the participation of transgender athletes. Although transgender athletes were officially permitted to participate in 2004 with the requirement of hormone therapy and gender-reaffirming surgery, the 2016 update stated, “Athletes will no longer be required to undergo ‘medically unnecessary’ hormone treatments to compete.” At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard made history as the first openly transgender athlete to compete in the Games. Her entrance sparked controversy regarding possible physical and psychological advantages she might have over her competitors; however, in the end, Hubbard’s Olympic debut only lasted ten minutes after all three of her efforts were judged to be “no lifts.” Nonetheless, many people regard her struggle as further proof that transgender athletes, especially transgender women, do not have an advantage in competition.
The largest concern regarding transgender athletes is the possible physical advantage they might have over cisgender athletes. According to a poll from the Washington Post, “55 percent of Americans [are] opposed to allowing transgender women and girls to compete with other women and girls in high school sports and 58 percent [are] opposed to it for college and professional sports.” However, many doctors and scientists argue that there is no scientific evidence backing up claims that transgender athletes have any advantage in competitions. In an interview with NPR, Dr. Eric Vilain said there is an extreme lack of data regarding possible advantages. The body is ever-changing, making it difficult for all ages to agree upon one final decision. Additionally, while the strength deficit between cisgender males and cisgender females generally increases over time, especially after puberty, many transgender athletes have taken puberty blockers or other hormones, which reduces this issue. Dr. Vilain continued to make the point that each case is different, adding another layer of difficulty in creating a universal statement, especially considering that each sport encapsulates different physical, mental and emotional challenges for the athletes.
For transgender athletes, a strong sense of self should not create additional barriers to their careers. Just as height varies between athletes and can make specific skills easier, being transgender should be regarded as another aspect of an athlete. No person should be judged purely by one component of their identity, yet that is exactly what lawmakers are doing by preventing transgender athletes from competing in their preferred categories. History has proven that there is no “right” way to address this concern. In some sports, such as boxing and weightlifting, competing as a transgender athlete is still viewed as “unfair” because the strength disparity between cisgender men and cisgender women can be so great. In this case, sport federations could consider creating a separate category for cisgender women and another, which includes both cisgender men and transgender athletes. Therefore, transgender athletes could compete without inadvertently giving an advantage over others due to testosterone levels. This controversy is extremely complex, and there is no correct answer, as each situation differs. Some transgender athletes take puberty blockers, which would almost entirely prevent any theoretical advantage, but some individuals do not, raising additional concerns. While transgender athletes should not be barred from competition, numerous questions still remain, leaving it up to each sport to make its own judgments.
