My seven-year-old daughter has been playing hockey for about a year now, but due to COVID-19, neither I nor my partner have had the chance to watch her in action. She practices in small groups while wearing a mask, and parents aren’t allowed in the rink. However, her coaches rave about her hard work and teamwork. Thanks to a friend, we finally got to see her play at an outdoor ice rink. I watched her shoot on goal, skate backward, and pass the puck like a pro. Sure, I’m a bit biased as her parent, but what truly stands out is how much playing sports has boosted her confidence.
She’s a natural on the ice, feeling at home in sports, even if she sometimes struggles socially off the field. Engaging in physical activity helps with her anxiety, calming her and improving her focus at home and school. Sports open up so many opportunities for her, yet some individuals—especially from conservative circles—are concerned that she’s somehow taking away chances from cisgender athletes.
My daughter is transgender, and according to some critics, she has an “unfair advantage” in sports simply for being who she is. Despite a lack of evidence showing transgender girls and women dominating NCAA or Olympic sports, several states are pushing legislation to ban transgender girls and women from competing in women’s sports.
Georgia is currently considering a bill—House Bill 372—that would prohibit transgender girls from participating in school sports. Disturbingly, it also allows a panel of physicians to examine the genitals of athletes to ensure no transgender girls are competing. Yes, it’s as horrifying as it sounds.
In Florida, Representative Greg Steube has introduced bill H.R. 426, also known as the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2021.” The basis of their argument is that “biological males” should not compete against “biological females,” asserting that males are inherently physically superior. This viewpoint fails to recognize transgender girls as the girls they truly are.
Let’s dismantle this argument using their own reasoning: hormones, specifically testosterone. Gender identity is not synonymous with biological sex. A transgender female (assigned male at birth) may possess some male traits, but this isn’t universal. Denying a transgender girl the opportunity to play on a team that aligns with her gender identity is to invalidate her identity as a girl. Using hormones as a basis to exclude them from activities that foster friendships and combat depression is misguided.
If hormone levels are the real concern, then issues shouldn’t arise until a child reaches puberty. Typically, testosterone levels diverge between assigned females and males around age 11. Thus, children—regardless of gender identity—can compete fairly until puberty without noticeable differences in testosterone affecting performance. Factors like coordination, practice, and interest play significant roles in athletic performance, but lawmakers seem to overlook these advantages.
For transgender youth, the prospect of going through puberty aligned with their biological sex can be terrifying. My daughter doesn’t want to experience the physical changes associated with male puberty; she simply wants to be herself. Puberty blockers can prevent this, facilitating a healthier transition and potentially reducing the need for future gender-affirming surgeries.
Ironically, those opposing transgender women in sports often seek to restrict access to medical care for transgender youth. They want to outlaw puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy.
The argument often lacks focus on transgender males, who face their unique challenges, viewed as inferior in a patriarchal society. Their safety seems less of a concern than preserving the egos of cisgender males, thus contradicting the supposed aim of protecting women.
Let’s consider a scenario where a transgender woman has gone through male puberty. While her body may be larger, this isn’t a universal truth. Many cisgender women are stronger and more athletic than both cisgender men and women. Every body is different, and hormone levels vary widely among all individuals. Testosterone is not the sole determinant of athletic ability, and competition is monitored for fairness.
Denying transgender individuals the right to access bathrooms and participate in sports isn’t about safety; it’s rooted in transphobia and a desire to erase their existence. In response to recent anti-trans bills, President Biden’s press secretary, Jen Psaki, made it clear that the administration will not support discriminatory practices against transgender individuals.
No amount of misinformation or legal restrictions will change the fact that transgender rights are human rights. Denying our humanity undermines the very equality they claim to defend.
For more insights on this topic, check out one of our other blogs, which dives deeper into the complexities of transgender rights.
Summary
This article addresses the misconceptions and discriminatory legislation surrounding transgender athletes, particularly focusing on the experiences of a transgender girl in sports. It highlights the importance of affirming identities, the role of hormones, and the need for supportive environments in sports, while emphasizing that denying these rights stems from transphobia rather than actual concerns for fairness.
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