In the U.S. rules vary from state to state. In Idaho, Nebraska, Indiana, North Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas students must play on the team that matches their birth certificate, have undergone surgery or have had extended hormone therapy. The NCAA requires one year of testosterone suppression. In February 2019 Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) asked Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to investigate USA Powerlifting over its rule barring biological males from competing in women’s events. In 2016 the International Olympic committee ruled that transgender athletes can compe…
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@ISIDEWITH6yrs6Y
No
@9G94M7PWomen’s Equality 2yrs2Y
Top Agreement
The biological differences between men and women are too vast to ever have them compete fairly in a competition based solely off of athletic ability. There should be a separate group for trans gender athletes and those who choose to compete against them.
@9G9QRSZ 2yrs2Y
Some transgender athletes take surgeries to change themselves to where it would be fair to compete with cisgender athletes. While it may not be fair if they don't do that, they should have the right to compete against them if they wish, and we shouldn't restrict that ability just because of their gender.
@9G94M7PWomen’s Equality2yrs2Y
Based on statistical evidence transgender athletes still have male bone density as well as lung capacity which cannot be effect by hormones. Other things such as height and limb length can give these athletes power over biological female athletes. It’s not anything against this community to say that sports should be considered fair between all competitors
@JusticeAndyGreen2yrs2Y
Bone density and lung capacity might not be significantly altered by hormone therapy, it's also important to remember that not all advantages in sports are strictly physical. Strategy, skill, and mental toughness play key roles as well. For instance, the legendary basketball player, Muggsy Bogues, stood at just 5'3" but excelled in a sport dominated by much taller players.
Moreover, sports have always had individuals with genetic advantages. For example, swimmer Michael Phelps' wingspan is longer than his height, a trait that gives him an edge in the pool. Should we disallow him from competing because of this advantage?
@Renaldo-MoonGreen 8mos8MO
While they have larger bodies than biological females, trans women have a variety of other disadvantages over bio females, caused by transitioning, such as decreased endurance and less ability to recover quickly.
@Ars-Gratia-Artis1yr1Y
“fair to compete with cisgender athletes”
Technically not, as biologically male swimmers have outpaced the biologically females in the female leagues every time. I mean, if a woman can keep pace with the men, it's one thing. But the other way around, historically and statistically, doesn't work. Perhaps there's a better solution for this, I.E. a third and fourth category for trans males and trans females to level the playing field a little bit?
The sooner we stop denying facts, the faster we can move to equity.
@Renaldo-MoonGreen 8mos8MO
While trans woman swimmer is more likely out pace a biological females swimmer this is not always the case. Transitioning will affect the swimmer's ability to grow muscle and also the stamina of a swimmer.
@9XKK8KC8mos8MO
what are u on... you can chop off genitals but you cant change that a transitioned man will be biologically stronger than a biological women
@Renaldo-MoonGreen 8mos8MO
Thats also Bs. Men are generally stronger than women but many women are stronger than men. And transitioning will affect the athletes ability to grow muscle, as they no longer are producing testosterone.
@9GB6NWD2yrs2Y
I undeniably agree. You can never completely transition one gender into another; it is biologically impossible.
@GrumpyCapitalist2yrs2Y
many indigenous cultures, such as the Navajo, there was a recognition of more than two genders long before modern discussions about transgender rights. These cultures often had roles for people who didn't fit neatly into male or female categories, and they were fully integrated into society, including sports and competitions.
Moreover, we've seen that hormone therapy can bring transgender athletes within the same range of physical capabilities as cisgender athletes of their identified gender. For example, MMA fighter Fallon Fox, a trans woman, underwent hormone therapy and has competed professionally against cisgender women.
@Ars-Gratia-Artis1yr1Y
Well... Yeah... Don't think a Bio-Male would have a hard time in a fight with a woman. And that's kind of the problem.
@9G9LJH2Republican2yrs2Y
It’s wrong and is cheating. You should compete in the sport associated with the gender you were born.
@9Q7SHGW 1yr1Y
The problem with this thought is if thats the case trans men must compete against women as well. We have increased muscle mass and stamina due to having the same hormone levels as men. Some trans men even train and end up with wayyy more muscle than some cis men this would be unfair to the women as well. It's important to remember that transgender doesn't only mean a man transitioning to a woman and we can't separate the 2 allowing 1 to play as the gender assigned at birth and not the other.
@9YGH7FQ8mos8MO
Steroids is cheating. Period.
@9WDWLZR 9mos9MO
I think this depends; for example—women’s sports. A biological woman taking hormones/testosterone etc… is going to have an advantage over cis women.
@9G99GST2yrs2Y
I think it is truly unfair to let born men play born women in a sport the male is more dominate from birth.
@VulcanMan6 2yrs2Y
We shouldn't be separating sports by gender to begin with.
@9QR8QLX12mos12MO
The whole point of dividing them originally was to provide the biologically weaker sex in our dimorphic species an environment where they can be physically active and have a reasonable competition.
It's why we don't have high schoolers in the same league as the 8 year olds, even when they are the same biological sex, although funnily enough, females are so much weaker than males they frequently get shamed by high school boys teams.
I agree. While men are often stronger physically than women, women have more endurance usually. Neither gender has an overarching advantage in sports.
@Ars-Gratia-Artis1yr1Y
I mean, fair assessment, and I thought the same for a while, but the problem is men would have an easier time against a significant percent of women. I'm not against, however, a woman applying for the MLB or something, provided she's held to the same standards as the men. If she can compete on that level, why not?
Men in women's sports is a problem and there is research on this. Probably worth a Google.
@9GTMQ8Y 2yrs2Y
Top Disagreement
Denying a transgender person access to any experience should be considered unfair discrimination, and they should be given a fair chance to compete against those of which they know they are equal to. (regarding gender)
@9GTPL5M 2yrs2Y
Transgender athletes are considered equal in terms of gender, but they are not equal in terms of biological sex which has a physical impact on their raw height, strength, and speed.
@Ars-Gratia-Artis1yr1Y
While you can alter visible things, you cannot alter every piece of DNA in the body. It's about the chromosomes, buddy!
@9GV3T952yrs2Y
Transgender people are born with certain chromosomes and hormones that affect their athletic ability. It has been scientifically proven that men are naturally stronger than woman, to place a biological man and a biological woman against each other regardless of how they identity would be not logical and unfair to the athletes.
@TheHillbillyLordRepublican2mos2MO
Gender says nothing about a person and is really meaningless, the only thing that matters is biological sex.
@Liam_Hetland 2yrs2Y
There is an inherent anatomical difference in the brain and body makeup. No surgery could change that; people will always be the sex they were at birth. Male bodies develop much stronger muscles with more endurance, which is typically why males also have larger muscles. If you have seen the difference between a male and female runner, you will quickly see that males win nearly every time. There is a fundamental reason for this because there are and always will be inherent differences between males and females, not only in muscle build but also in the brain's functionality. There are apparent differences in how the brain works and develops between the two genders. If you want further information, I can provide credible answers from medical institutes to support my claims.
@9HJC38MRepublican2yrs2Y
I 100% agree. It's also horrible how women have to deal with biological men in changing rooms. As well as the fact that it undermines womens achievements by allowing men to compete with them.
@9HJC6T92yrs2Y
Yes, there is a biological difference between XX and XY chromosomes. By letting a transgender female compete with biological females on any level is a clear unfair advantage to the transgender. Imagine LeBron transitioned and joined the WNBA, in what universe would that be fair.
@9HJD9JJ2yrs2Y
Transgender athletes have the right to participate in activities they love as themselves. Such claims may be true, but there are other solutions to this problem than simply to ban transgender athletes. We could create their own division, but then again that would be isolating and may feel like we are trying to segregate them. And there are not only two birth genders, we often forget entirely that intersex people exist as well, people born with both male and female genetic and/or physical traits. What about them? So many times, people try and argue that Transgender athletes should not compete in the division for their gender, but they never offer solutions other than to ban them. So, what should we do?
@Liam_Hetland2yrs2Y
Competing in the same league as the sex you have at birth would be more fair in terms of biological makeup, yet they’ll claim it’s unfair in terms of chemical makeup, which would probably be true. A separate league is really the only solution, yet again, it will result in outrage and plus, it is unlikely it will sustain nearly as much funding as seen with men’s vs women’s basketball.
Now on the topic of intersex, it is difficult to determine as much as it is to live with. Generally however there is a clear difference with how the child develops. The standard case of… Read more
@9HJFPYC2yrs2Y
There is area for discussion here, but look at a sport like wrestling where they are categorized into weight and height classes. For Transgender athlete similar regulations could apply for fairness in the sport.
@Liam_Hetland2yrs2Y
Yes, although people will label that as discrimination
@9FXBRVN 2yrs2Y
One of the fundamental principles of sports is to promote inclusivity and equality. Proponents of allowing transgender athletes to compete in accordance with their gender identity argue that denying them this right is a form of discrimination. They argue that excluding transgender athletes from sports teams or competitions based on their assigned sex at birth is akin to the historic discrimination faced by other groups, such as women and racial minorities, in sports. Inclusivity not only promotes fairness but also helps create a more diverse and accepting society. Medical and scientific commu… Read more
@9FXDX9J2yrs2Y
People from the oppposing sex at birth should not compeate with the other sex because of the different biology of the different sexes and that is also how you get more rape vicims because of sick people who would do this kind of thing for their own pleasure.
@ISIDEWITH6yrs6Y
Yes
@9GD7SGM 2yrs2Y
There are many studies you can point to for either argument, though to go study vs study is to get nowhere; ask yourself why you would think women have to have a division in the first place.
Ask yourself, now, why you believe a transperson, someone who likely has undergone hormonal procedures, should not be included in the division of their gender.
I encourage you to say as you think. Lets not tiptoe around the blatant sexism and phobia rooted in the opposition to this belief. This is, at the end of the day, an issue with the way which things in the sports world are handled and classified rather than an issue with individuals.
@9GF9ZP52yrs2Y
Biological men contain a much higher physical ability in comparison to a female. Allowing Transgender athletes to compete against their desired sex would only create an unfair advantage against the biological women.
@9GFG4MH2yrs2Y
The XY and XX chromosome are genetically built different, and that's just biological facts. XY are constructed in a manner to be able to preform better in higher intensity sports. It can also be statistically proven that XY are at a much higher competitive level that XX have not preform as well in. So, transgender should not be able to compete in the gendered sport that is opposite assigned at birth.
Many trans women undergo hormone replacement therapy which significantly decreases their testosterone levels, often to levels lower than those found in cisgender women. This therapy can also decrease muscle mass and bone density, which are key factors in athletic performance.
A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that transgender women who underwent hormone therapy for 12 months had an athletic advantage over cisgender women that was only marginal.
@9GF9KRNRepublican2yrs2Y
Each gender is born with physical and mental advantages and disadvantages, so it is scientifically unfair for men to compete in women's sports, as well as women in men's sports. It is also sexist, because each gender has their own sport, and for one gender to transfer over to the other gender and dominate in the sport is socially unfair.
@9GFQHYNRepublican2yrs2Y
Even though a transperson has undergone hormonal procedures, they will always have an advantage over women. So, it is not fair to them, especially when the women they train maybe their whole lives in a certain sport. They should have the spotlight. It is a competition between women. Men have their own competitions. Just because you are a transperson, your biology plays an important part, so you should be respectful and not play in women's divisions and basically be fair play.
@9FBGZ3HIndependent 2yrs2Y
Top Disagreement
It provides an unfair advantage due to the fact that most athletes transitioned after puberty leading to them being stronger and faster than female athletes.
@9F8MSQDRepublican2yrs2Y
Transgender athletes should only be allowed to compete against other athletes that are the same gender that they were assigned at birth.
@9FFG4772yrs2Y
Men and women's natural builds helps them be more skilled at different things. In order to have a fair challange transgender athletes should not be able to participate in a sport that was not there born sex.
@ISIDEWITH6yrs6Y
No, athletes should compete based on the biological sex that is listed on their birth certificate
@jsimicConstitution3yrs3Y
Men and women are athletically different, down to the DNA.
@9FDS8YX2yrs2Y
There have been multiple studies showing that's not true. In addition, these policies only exist to discriminate against trans people
@9FF58H42yrs2Y
This is indisputably correct. Men and women are different on the genetic level, even if one is transgender.
@9FDRXSCIndependent2yrs2Y
men and women being different athletically is beside the point, athletes no matter gender should be separated by weight class and max strength so that everyone has a fair chance
@9FGF9VS 2yrs2Y
He is right. They are. They should not compete with each other, and if they did. Men would demolish a biological female any day because of human nature and size difference.
@9H548XJ2yrs2Y
Aerobic capacity is related to testosterone levels in the body, had a transgender woman who was on hormone therapy for years attempted to compete against cisgender males, they'd have a considerable disadvantage in the competition, which is exactly what we're trying to avoid with this debate, an unfair advantage.
This is an invasion of personal privacy and that means if just trans people have to provide this information than everyone has to as well which is an invasion of privacy.
@solo-von-kickpaw 8mos8MO
You must have been a real treat to your parents when they asked you to clean your room. I'm sure you threw a tantrum about it being an 'invasion of personal space.' Newsflash, princess - sometimes in life, we have to do things we don't like for the greater good. And your constant whining only proves how self-centered and entitled you truly are
@Renaldo-MoonGreen7mos7MO
Theres a difference between being asked to clean your room and disclosing sensitive medical information
@solo-von-kickpaw7mos7MO
I'm a man ok and if I say I'm an 18-year-old girl who "never"😉 served in the military guess who would win the fight so I can say I'm a woman so I can go to the ladys restroom and then go to the men's room whenever because I'm a man? Do you know how many perves that's going to bring in well never mind my family is moving to Utah this December 😄 I'm so excited but it's so fricen expensive and I can't bring my beauty (my 1969 Ford Mustang 😭) I'm going to have to sell her 😭
@B248P5T7mos7MO
Biological sex can be influenced by many factors. Hormones, for example, can have a significant affect on a person's body. Basing sport classifications on sex does not, therefore, increase fairness by default, it simply seperates perceived sexes.
@ISIDEWITH6yrs6Y
Yes, but only if their hormone levels are equivalent to those in the gender category in which they compete
@9GTMQ8Y 2yrs2Y
Top Agreement
If a trans woman's hormone levels are equal to that of a cisgender woman's hormone levels (and visa-versa for men) then there is no reason as to why they shouldn't be able to compete, for there is no unfair advantage or imbalance.
@9GVBW8B2yrs2Y
Transgenders women should not compete in women's sports. Transgender men should not compete in men's sports.
@9GVCYRZ2yrs2Y
A man's body is built different than a woman's body. It has very little to do with the hormones and more about the actual structure difference in the two bodies.
@9GVCK9C2yrs2Y
A transgender women is still different biologically than a cisgender women Besides hormones levels there are other factors that affect someone's performance that can be better in men or women. There are many cases were transgender people are competing in a sport and dominating because of their biological advantages. Transgenders should have their own category of sports and shouldn't have to infringe on men and women's sports.
@9FXBRVN 2yrs2Y
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Effectiveness:
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a common medical intervention for transgender individuals. It involves taking hormones (e.g., testosterone or estrogen) to align an individual's physical characteristics with their gender identity. Studies have shown that HRT leads to significant changes in muscle mass, bone density, and other physical attributes over time.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism in 2017 found that transgender women (assigned male at birth) who underwent HRT had a decrease in muscle… Read more
@9FXJRXS2yrs2Y
Males have an undeniable physical advantage on average over females regardless of hormone treatment. Muscle and bone density, lung capacity
@9FXJYGB2yrs2Y
Transgenger athletes have an unfair advantage over cisgender athletes, and that their participation in sports is unfair to cisgender athletes. Transgender athletes have an unfair advantage because of their physical characteristics. For example, a transgender woman who was assigned male at birth may have more muscle mass or bone density than a cisgender woman. This could give her an advantage in sports that require strength or power. For example, a transgender man who was assigned female at birth may have grown up playing sports with other boys. This could give him an advantage in sports that… Read more
@9FV7QWH2yrs2Y
They have advantages from having the increased hormones earlier in their life, so it still isn't fair. That takes away the fairness of womens sports.
@9GF6JK62yrs2Y
I agree with this, while Trans people are in highschool, I believe it doesn't matter, we should let them, play without making their hormones equal because they might not be able to afford that, but on a professional level I see the argument and that is when hormones should be tested.
@ISIDEWITH10mos10MO
In your opinion, does the current debate about transgender athletes reflect deeper societal values around fairness and equality?
@9VYLKBR9mos9MO
No, it’s just transphobia. Most athletes aren’t even trans and represent a small number. An even smaller number for professional athletes. We should focus more on safety and education in sports. Far more women are abused in sports and that is a bigger issue. More men face physical harm from contact sports and that is often under addressed. We have bigger issues
@B4llotBoxChameleon3mos3MO
“Most athletes aren’t even trans and represent a small number”
Answer these two questions truthfully, then ask yourself if you think its fair:
1. In the past 5yrs, what percentage of female athletes are trans?
2. In the past 5yrs, what percentage of female athletic new-record holders are trans?
@B4llotBoxChameleon3mos3MO
The staggering number of medals female athletes lost to trans opponents revealed in explosive UN report
@solo-von-kickpaw8mos8MO
search up this name "imane khelif" the man who pretended to be a girl who ruined the life of the real girl during the Olympics
@9VLYQ67Republican9mos9MO
Allowing transgender athletes to participate with the group they've transitioned to is inherently wrong, as whether they are have transitioned or not, biological males possess advantages over biological females in most sports, taking away the fairness of the sport, and destroying the chances of biological women to win in their sports.
@9VLTQQT9mos9MO
Nice opinion! I sure hope you have a source to back this up...
@HolisticFreedomRepublican9mos9MO
“I sure hope you have a source to back this up”
1. Muscle Mass and Strength
Men generally have greater muscle mass and strength due to higher levels of testosterone. This translates into advantages in sports requiring explosive power and strength, such as:
@9V7LY2C9mos9MO
I wish our society's biggest problem were trans athletes. I do not care. It does not happen often.
@9VLV9FM9mos9MO
Sports is inherently unfair due to genetics, furthermore studies have shown at around 1-2 years trans women (not aware of trans male studies) have less strength proportional to a cis women. Furthermore there are no cases of trans women (nobody ever brings up trans men in this "debate" so I wont) dominating competition. I believe her last name was Thomas, did well locally but placed 7th in the state
@ISIDEWITH10mos10MO
No, create a separate category for transgender athletes to compete against each other
@9TQQKKX10mos10MO
I believe that there needs to be some regulations and possibly a trans league of their own but I believe they should still be counted as athletes.
@94Z37B43yrs3Y
No, athletes should compete based on their biological sex.
@8HYGV9Y5yrs5Y
They can compete but only against other trans athletes
@9PDSPW41yr1Y
There are not enough trans athletes to form leagues. Some sports only have one or two trans athletes total.
@top_mastiffRepublican 11mos11MO
Agreed! Since a trans person will never have the same hormone levels as regular people, they should only be allowed to compete with other trans people, especially with assigned males competing in female sports, very unfair. Personally I'm fine with assigned females competing against biological males, they can choose to lose by a mile. The only fair way to have them compete is to compete against other trans people.
@9T3F55T10mos10MO
"regular people"
@9VNT4XB9mos9MO
Yup, "regular people" is right. Regular people as in those who do not ingest copious amounts of drugs in the form of exogenous cross-sex hormones, declare themselves something they are objectively not (the opposite sex) , and force others to do the same.
@8Z4DT443yrs3Y
That would be assuming there was even enough trans people that want to participate to form a team. While it would be ideal, it doesn't make it realistic.
@8ML6FQ45yrs5Y
Yes. People are people.
@9RPTCW611mos11MO
In my home state, two male to female runners crushed multiple state records for track and field, in the girls division. This likely takes away athletic scholarships from girls who otherwise would have won. Biologically speaking, males are on average significantly more physically dominant than females. That is science. Taking estrogen supplements doesn’t magically over-ride this. If we wish to live in a true meritocracy, how is this justifiable? Trampling the rights of the majority to virtue signal to an extreme minority group?
Biological females in transition taking testosterone can pla… Read more
That's not what the question is about. I agree with you, trans people are people. But we shouldn't give them such an unfair advantage over the other athletes because of their personal theology. It's just not fair to the others.
@9ZKV4438mos8MO
Yes, but men in women’s sports is an unfair advantage based on the illusion that you can be whatever you feel like being.
@9MJ3X3B1yr1Y
very true, but boys aren't girls, and girls aren't boys
@9DND6ZZ2yrs2Y
Create a separate division
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