Their Arena, Their Rules; Your Body, Your Choice

By Beowulf Laughlin-Koch

1.75 seconds – that marks the difference between a celebration and a controversy. When swimmer Lia Thomas finished the race a split second before the runner up Emma Weyant, the entire sports world erupted in debate. Thomas became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship in any sport after getting first place in the women’s 500 yard freestyle swim race. However, the win was not celebrated unanimously. Many athletes argued that Lia’s born biology gave her an unfair advantage above the other cisgender women. This incident, along with many others, sparked one of the largest worldwide feuds in recent history: should transgender people be allowed to compete as their chosen gender?

Understanding the argument requires you to understand a very important distinction: gender vs. sex. Sex refers to biological characteristics – chromosomes, hormone levels, and physical traits – that are typically categorized as male or female. Gender, however, is a social identity, how individuals perceive themselves and how they express themselves in public. A transgender person’s gender does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. Recognizing this distinction is necessary when discussing any topic involving trans and cisgender (those whose gender identity matches their birth sex) people.

Allowing transgender athletes to compete in divisions that align with their gender identity helps them feel accepted and validated. Sports are not only about competition; they also promote community, self acceptance, and health, both mental and physical. Rejecting a trans athlete from the gendered division they identify in can be extremely damaging to their mental health, making them feel unrecognized and unaccepted. Including trans athletes ensures everyone has a chance to participate without forcing unwanted identity traits on them.

However, even with hormone replacement therapy, some transgender athletes – especially trans women (assigned male at birth) – may keep certain physical advantages, such as enhanced muscle mass and strength. This raises questions of competitive fairness when trans athletes are competing against cisgender athletes.

Allowing transgender men and women to compete in their chosen divisions also broadens the awareness for the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, bringing more eyes to the intense segregation and discrimination they still face. It encourages public conversation about acceptance, awareness, and understanding. Increased visibility on the LGBTQ+ community can help educate people about the challenges they face and the experiences they have to deal with on a day to day basis.

Many sports organizations have rules and regulations on use of hormones like testosterone for cisgender athletes, yet trans people often take these same hormones during their transition process. This creates confusion of the rules – if someone is taking hormones as a means to feel comfortable in their own body, can they still compete where those same hormones are banned? Governing sports bodies still continue to struggle over how to set consistent and fair rules across different sports.

Sports have often been a battleground for social progress. Just as women and racial minorities fought for equal participation, allowing transgender people equal access upholds the principle of fairness and human rights. Everyone deserves the chance to pursue their dreams, regardless of their chosen identity.

Sports teams often involve close proximity, shared locker rooms, and travel or overnight stays – all situations that can cause potential safety and privacy concerns. Some athletes worry that including transgender athletes in traditionally gendered sports can lead to uncomfortable situations, misunderstandings, and even possibilities for sexual harassment. While these concerns are mostly based on fear rather than evidence, they still must be considered in any debates over transgender participation in sports.

Given the differences between cisgender and transgender athletes, one potential solution is for sports federations to create new divisions with new rules for transgender athletes. This new, separate league could help maintain fairness in all divisions, allow trans and non-binary athletes to compete without restriction, and encourage broader participation while reducing controversy. 

The debate over transgender athletes in sports reflects broader questions about identity, equality, and human rights. There is no single solution—but careful policy-making can help ensure sports remain both fair and inclusive. Ultimately, the goal should be to celebrate athletic talent while respecting the right of every athlete to belong.