In the several recent years, controversy over transgender athletes’ participation in sports at all levels has been widely discussed. Advocates have actively expressed their concerns towards the ethical and biological integrity of allowing transgender athletes, particularly in girls’ and women’s sports, to compete. Over the past few years, several states including California and New York have passed laws legalizing transgender participation in sports at all levels from high school to collegiate.
However, upon last month’s inauguration, the House of Representatives passed a ban, officially restricting transgender and non-binary athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s school sports teams.
Though movements advocating for the LGBTQ+ community, especially in America, have been widespread, countless people have expressed enthusiasm towards instituting regulations against transgender participation in sports.
The primary concern for those partial towards the bans is the biological factors that differ the male and female body. According to the National Library of Medicine (NIH), males often show signs of increased muscle mass and bone density due to their higher testosterone– hormone which assists in muscle building– levels in comparison to the average female levels. Transgender women, individuals who were previously biological males that transition into females, typically undergo procedures and medication which lower their testosterone levels. However, studies have proven that the testosterone levels of a transgender women are still higher than most females’ despite the procedures and physical therapy intended to suppress them. Thus, advocates argue that allowing transgender women and females to compete in the same category is unfair when transgender women have biological advantages at their disposal.
These biological factors also influence much of the ethical concerns regarding transgender participation in sports. Research has proven that men naturally possess greater strength regardless of the amount of training women may accomplish. Because of this, many argue it is unethical for transgender athletes to participate in women’s sports as they are essentially setting all female competitors up for losing.
Meanwhile, the other side of the argument remains firm in their opinions of allowing transgender participation in sports. Over the recent decade, countless LGBTQ+ movements have gained increasing attention through their protests and campaigns for equality and recognition. Evidently, justice for transgender athletes has been recognized as one of the many popular LGBTQ+ efforts. Supporters argue that prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in sports ultimately furthers their point that transgender individuals are unjustly being restricted of the same rights as any man or woman.
Many also point out that one’s ability to play a sport should not be defined by their gender. The reasoning for athletes to play a sport may vary; however, all people should still be allowed the same opportunities to play sports– should they choose to– regardless of their gender identity.
–
Though many believe transgender women should not participate in women’s sports, that is not to say that they should simply be banned from any chance at competing. Many people have widely agreed with the solution that transgender athletes should be allowed to participate in sports, but in their own, separate category from both the men and women’s. By creating them a specific category in sports, men, women, and transgender athletes alike are able to compete without one competitor possessing any advantages over others and are guaranteed a fair competition.
