In fall 2018 and again in fall 2019, Veronica Ivy defended her first place title at the masters track cycling world championship event for 35-39 year old women. Following her victory, a wave of comments flooded social media regarding an alleged unfair advantage between trans women and cisgender women in cycling. Today, The House passed The Equality Act, which will amend civil rights to extend non-discrimination protections to LGBTQ Americans, including transgender Americans. The Equality Act comes at a crucial time, as several states have been actively working to ban transgender athletes from participation in sport (1) .
Though some people have approached the issue with curiosity and a desire for more knowledge, others have resorted to name calling, harassment, and dehumanizing language regarding trans athletes in sport. Some have stated they don’t agree with the inclusion of trans or non-binary athletes in cycling due to supposed biological advantages. We are writing to express our continued support for transgender and non-binary athletes in cycling and to request that the cycling community provides the same level of clear and steadfast support for transgender athletes.
The field of cycling and the inclusion of transgender athletes has progressed over the years, particularly since the 2015 revisions to the the CAS policy regarding transgender and intersex athletes. We are concerned that the current sociopolitical climate, misinformation, and misconceptions will allow opponents to reverse this progress.
We agree with the United Nations’ stance that sport is a human right (2), and thus write to reiterate that trans women have a human right to compete in the women’s field. We recognize that the IOC principles, Court of Arbitration for Sport, USA Cycling (3), and NCAA decisions are informed by scientific, legal, and ethical principles in sport, and thus, we support their decisions to include trans women in women’s fields.
What Does the Research Say?
The science and research in this area is limited. Though research in this area is difficult to do and find, one 2017 systematic review of 8 research articles and 31 sport policies concluded that “there is no direct or consistent research suggesting transgender female individuals (or male individuals) have an athletic advantage at any stage of their transition.”(4) It is unethical and unfair to rest on the argument that trans women have inherent biological advantages over cisgender women in sport without having peer reviewed empirical research to support these arguments or policies. Moreover, the prohibition of trans women from women’s competition constitutes discriminatory behavior that works directly against USA Cycling policies and values.
Research also clearly demonstrates that trans athletes face several negative effects that stem from the transphobic beliefs and discriminatory actions of others. For example, a lack of an inclusive environment serves as a major constraint to participation for trans athletes (4). In one recent study of women and gender diverse cyclists, 31 trans and nonbinary participants responded to a list of 50 potential constraints to participation in cycling (5). The highest rated factor that decreased their participation in cycling was “Lack of equitable opportunities for gender diverse cyclists.” Other highly rated constraints to participation included “Feeling as though I don’t belong” and “Inaccurate assumptions about women and gender diverse cyclists.” In comparison to cisgender women, trans women reported a significantly higher frequency of being made fun of, picked on, pushed, shoved, hit, or threatened with harm, t(98) = 2.338, p = .021. Trans and non-binary cyclists who participated in this study reported various forms of harassment in sport, including verbal assaults, threats, whispers, purposely being misgendered, being stared at or pointed at, and being generally excluded from one’s community (6). One racer shared her experiences of being spit on and having her equipment sabotaged. Another participant stated, “I felt like I didn’t and couldn’t feel safe in any cycling community and maybe it was best if I stopped cycling.”
Transgender and non-binary people already face discrimination, rejection, and a lack of access to resources both in and outside of sport (7). Suicidality is significantly higher in transgender adults than the general population due to the risk factors associated with being trans (7). We urge our community members to actively welcome and include trans and non-binary athletes in cycling.
Conclusion
To increase the participation of all women in cycling, it is imperative that those in the community work together to make cycling a more inclusive sport. As such, it is essential to support trans women in cycling. We, Stamina Racing Collective, welcome trans women in women’s fields and recognize their value in our sport. We urge others to do the same.
References
Reimer, A. (2021). Transgender athlete bans are gaining momentum in state legislatures. Forbes Magazine.
United Nations. (2007). Women 2000 and Beyond: Women, Gender Equality, and Sport. New York: Division for the Advancement of Women, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. United Nations.
USA Cycling. (2018). Transgender athlete participation.
Jones, B. A., Arcelus, J., Bouman, W. P., & Haycraft, E. (2017). Sport and transgender people: A systematic review of the literature relating to sport participation and competitive sport policies. Sports Medicine, 47, 701-716.
Ayala, E. E., Waniger, K. J., Faulkner, K. P. A., & Riley-Schmida, A. (2020). Experiences that Affect Participation for Women and Gender Diverse Athletes in Competitive Cycling. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, 12, 10-26. Doi: 10.18666/JOREL-2020-V12-I1-9912
Ayala, E. E., Riley-Schmida, A., Faulkner, K. P. A., & Maleski, K. J. (in press). Microaggressions experienced by women and gender diverse athletes in competitive cycling. Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal.
Herman, J. L., Brown, T. N. T., & Haas, A. P. (2019). Suicide thoughts and attempts among transgender adults: Findings from the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey.
Additional Resources
Empirical Research Articles
Ayala, E. E., Riley-Schmida, A., Faulkner, K. P. A., & Maleski, K. J. (in press). Microaggressions experienced by women and gender diverse athletes in competitive cycling. Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal.
In this article, the authors define and describe microaggressions in the context of cycling. They explain the types of microaggressions and forms of harassment that women experience, including trans women and non-binary racers. Please mail staminaracing@gmail.com for a copy of this article.
Ayala, E. E., Waniger, K. J., Faulkner, K. P. A., & Riley-Schmida, A. (2020). Experiences that affect participation for women and gender diverse athletes in competitive cycling. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, 12, 10-26. doi: 10.18666/JOREL-2020-V12-I1-9912
This article identifies factors that increase and decrease participation of women, trans, and non-binary athletes in competitive cycling. Athletes attributed a lack of presence or support and unsafe environments to their decreased participation in cycling. They described feelings of isolation and acts of exclusion, a general lack of value or consideration for gender diverse athletes, and being singled out as gender diverse athletes.
Gleaves, J., & Lehrbach, T. (2016) Beyond fairness: the ethics of inclusion for transgender and intersex athletes. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, 43(2), 311-326, doi: 10.1080/00948705.2016.1157485
“This article contends that arguments for narrativity rather than physiological equivalency show that exclusion is not only misguided but also undesirable: it is detrimental not only to the excluded athletes but to sport itself. The article yields several important consequences including calls for revisions to policies on transgender and intersex athletes.”
Handelsman, D. J. (2018). Circulating Testosterone as the Hormonal Basis of Sex Differences in Athletic Performance, Endocrine Reviews, 39(5), 821-823.
“There is a wide sex difference in circulating testosterone concentrations and a reproducible dose-response relationship between circulating testosterone and muscle mass and strength as well as circulating hemoglobin in both men and women. These dichotomies largely account for the sex differences in muscle mass and strength and circulating hemoglobin levels that result in at least an 8% to 12% ergogenic advantage in men. Suppression of elevated circulating testosterone of hyperandrogenic athletes results in negative effects on performance, which are reversed when suppression ceases.”
Ingram, B. J., & Thomas, C. L. (2019). Transgender policy in sport, a review of current policy and commentary on the challenges of policy creation. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 18(6), 239-247. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000605
The authors summarize the history of sex policies in sport and discuss the difficulties associated with such policies. They conclude that scientific evidence is limited regarding fairness for transgender athletes and note that medical and scientific community members will continue to do scholarly work in this area.
Ivy, V. (in press). If Ifs and Buts were Candy and Nuts: The failure of arguments against trans and intersex women’s full and equal inclusion in women’s sport. Feminist Philosophy Quarterly.
The author of this article responds to several common arguments against the inclusion of trans athletes in sport. Dr. Ivy challenges the notion of transgender women being “biological men,” disputes the argument that trans athletes are dominating women’s sports, and reviews evidence regarding alleged unfair advantages of trans athletes in sports.
Jones, B. A., Arcelus, J., Bouman, W. P., & Haycraft, E. (2017). Sport and transgender people: A systematic review of the literature relating to sport participation and competitive sport policies. Sports Medicine, 47, 701-716.
“In relation to sport-related physical activity, this review found the lack of inclusive and comfortable environments to be the primary barrier to participation for transgender people. This review also found transgender people had a mostly negative experience in competitive sports because of the restrictions the sport's policy placed on them. The majority of transgender competitive sport policies that were reviewed were not evidence based.”
McKinnon, R., & Conrad, A. (2018). Including trans women athletes in competitive sport: Analyzing the science, law, and principles and policies of fairness in competition. Philosophical Topics, 46, 1-68.
“In this paper, we examine the scientific, legal, and ethical foundations for inclusion of transgender women athletes in competitive sport, drawing on IOC principles and relevant Court of Arbitration for Sport decisions. We argue that the inclusion of trans athletes in competition commensurate with their legal gender is the most consistent position with these principles of fair and equitable sport. Biological restrictions, such as endogenous testosterone limits, are not consistent with IOC and CAS principles...Thus, in place of a limit on endogenous testosterone for women (whether cisgender, transgender, or intersex), we argue that ‘legally recognized gender’ is most fully in line with IOC and CAS principles.”
United Nations. (2007). Women 2000 and Beyond: Women, Gender Equality, and Sport. New York: Division for the Advancement of Women, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. United Nations.
Legal Briefs
This legal brief argues that there is a longstanding precedent regarding the importance of equality under law. It also notes the experiences of coaches, teammates, and other allies of trans athletes demonstrate that the participation of trans women in sport benefits all athletes (including cisgender women).
“All amici interviewed reported positive experiences with trans women athletes—and found competition with these athletes to be not only fair but welcomed…As multiple amici explained, trans women pose no threat to fair competition, including because, as amici’s experiences demonstrate, success in sports is determined by a multitude of factors (such as natural talent and the amount of effort dedicated to learning and practicing a sport). Transgender status is simply inconsequential to competitive outcomes. Many amici also share that they have grown personally as a result of their experiences with trans women in their sport. Several note that the inclusion of trans individuals on a team fosters a sense of community; teammates learn about different experiences and perspectives and often ultimately support the inclusion of all players, regardless of their backgrounds, to enjoy something they have in common—the sport. Multiple amici also observe that working with trans athletes enabled them to overcome their own biases and fostered an ability to treat all players (and all people) equally. Ultimately, amici’s experiences demonstrate that trans women are just like other women—and should be afforded the same opportunities to participate in women’s sports.”
National Women's Law Center Amicus Brief in Support of Trans Athletes
The National Women’s Law Center explains why transgender bans harm trans girls, cisgender women and girls who do not conform to stereotypes, and disproportionately targets girls and women of color. This brief also explains why trans bans are a violation of Title IX.
Former Idaho Attorneys General Amicus Brief in support of Trans Athletes
In this legal brief, former attorneys explain why proposed trans bans on athletes violate the Equal Protect Clause, are unconstitutional, and create harm
Interact Amicus Brief in support of intersex athletes
This brief argues that sex verification inflicts severe trauma on students, especially intersex students. It also argues that there is no justification for discriminatory treatment of intersex student athletes.
Hecox v Little - Safer Declaration
This legal document offers an expert opinion on the medical and scientific concepts relevant to the attempted regulation of transgender girls and women playing sports and the related policies.
Transgender Athletes Amicus Brief
In this report, transgender athletes explain they do not dominate their sports as a result of their gender. They note how their involvement in sport allows them to overcome difficulties associated with gender dysphoria, negative self-image, and a lack of self-confidence. This report also notes the “faulty science and erroneous assumptions” about transgender people. Finally, the report notes that discriminatory policies such as bans on transgender athletes cause serious harm to trans athletes while providing no benefit to cisgender athletes.
In this report, 13 healthcare organizations explain what it means to experience gender dysphoria, including its seriousness and accepted treatment protocols. They then explain why and how the exclusion of trans girls and women from sports negatively affects their health, safety, and well-being.
Articles and resources for those who want to learn more
What is the T in LGBT? Supporting Transgender Athletes Through Sport Psychology
This article from 2011 was written with Sports Psychologists in mind but can be applied to all individuals looking to learn more about the transgender experience. It breaks down common myths regarding transgender athletes along with suggestions about how to support all athletes.
Myths and Facts about Trans Athletes, Debunked (Author: ACLU)
The ACLU demystifies several common misconceptions about rans athletes in sport. The conclude the following:
Including trans athletes will benefit everyone
Trans athletes do not have an unfair advantage in sports
Trans girls are girls
Trans people belong on the same teams as other students