Today is the International Transgender Day of Visibility and there has been something on my mind for quite a few days now.
Last week the International Olympic Committee announced they are banning trans women from women’s events. This is a thing that keeps happening to “protect women.” What’s interesting is that to “protect women” the IOC is going to do genetic testing on every single female athlete trying to compete and rejecting those that are not “woman” enough for their standards. Whatever standards those are.
They are not, so far as has been reported, going to do the same testing on the male athletes.
I wonder if I, as a perimenopausal woman with a history of polycystic ovarian syndrome would qualify as woman enough.
I never participated in sports as a kid – I was overweight, had asthma, and generally no confidence. My kid participated in sports from the time they could crawl and I have seen what it has done for them and their friends. I have seen the growth in confidence, leadership, and been astonished at the athleticism. Sadly, most girls drop out of sports in their teenage years because they come up against the limits of a system that has always cared more about the boys.
The boys get more money, more visibility and fewer barriers. And now we’re tacking on one more. It’s not just the IOC, this is part of the attack on trans rights that’s happening around the world. The fact that all of this is happening under the IOC’s first female president is just maddening. And they are doing thing without listening to the women who are championing inclusion.
The fact that it’s happening at a time when women’s sports are growing vastly in popularity is infuriating. Especially since one of the reasons people are turning to women’s sports is because they can’t stomach supporting leagues that seem to condone male violence – the full ‘boys will be boys’ if you will.
Right now when I think of my trans friends and trans performers that I support, I feel scared and sick. As a person with a uterus, as a woman, I can understand some of being attacked for your biology, I cannot begin to imagine what the world feels like for queer folks right now.
Speaking out with whatever voice I have is the absolute least I can do.
Further reading:
The Walrus: The Olympics Anti-Trans Policy Is Really about Policing Women
CBC: Breaking down the IOC policy banning transgender women from female Olympic events