The families of three Connecticut students sought to reverse a Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference rule allowing students to compete according to their gender identity.
The OCR focused this complaint on transgender women, a tactic often taken to frighten the public. According to the OCR, the inclusion of transgender women on all-female track teams denied female student-athletes athletic benefits and opportunities, including advancing to the finals in events, higher-level competitions, awards, medals, recognition, and the possibility of greater visibility to colleges and other benefits.
There is a historical legacy in sports of women being tested to verify their femaleness. For over 40 years, female Olympians could be required to undergo the Barr Body Test if any other athlete so much as questioned their femaleness. This sets a painful precedent for allowing others to determine identity.
The case centers around Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood, two Black transgender women in a small Connecticut town that is almost 90 percent white. Both women have been frequently insulted and demeaned at track meets. At the same time, these women were also supported by members of their team and the CIAC. Terry and Andrea were recently featured in the documentary Changing the Game.
These fears were motivated by unfounded claims that somehow hormones are one of the most important factors in sports. However, we know that certain athletes stand out for myriad reasons work ethic, determination, practice, skill, height, speed, strength and that hormones are just one of many factors. These conversations are the same that revolved around Caster Semenya, Dutee Chand elite female track stars. The reasons cited for excluding Miller, Yearwood, Semenya, and Chand are examples of institutions imposing arbitrary definitions of what gender and sex mean. Sports impact many parts of our lives; however, decision-makers within these organizations should not be tasked with defining what our gender means to us, especially when unsupported by empirical evidence.
This overvaluation of testosterone as an indicator of improved performance in transgender women has not been supported in the literature. Instead, recent research has demonstrated that a reduction in testosterone generally results in decreased bone density and muscle mass. A recent review from my colleagues at Harvard Medical School concluded that it remains unclear whether endogenous hyperandrogenism . . . confers any competitive advantage and the researchers pointed to a paucity of evidence supporting any actual physiologic data comparing performance in sports to hormones.
Overall, there is data demonstrating that transwomen who undergo gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) lose muscle mass, but no conclusive evidence on competitive advantage. Rene Richards, a transgender female tennis player from the 1970s, saw her national ranking decrease after transitioning to female. Either way, this means that transgender athletes do not face any conclusive advantage when competing against cisgender colleagues.
The media tend to focus on transgender women competing against cisgender women; however, there is much less of a focus on transgender men. In mandating that athletes participate in their assigned gender, we must remember that this goes both ways. Mack Beggs, a transmasculine high school wrestler from Texas, was forced to compete in the womens division. Many of his opponents forfeited their matches to Mack, and every time he completed a match, he was forcibly outed and denied his identity.
For children, belonging is what means the most. Sports are a social good, with substantial health benefits. As a public health intervention, the physical and mental benefits of sports are so widespread that it is not worth keeping a child out.
Some people might believe that gender is assigned at birth and there is nothing else that can be done about this. Regardless, it is paramount, especially now, that we as a nation still foster conversations that include transgender people.
During a time when people of color and LGBTQ+ Americans are dying at unprecedented rates, we cannot allow the Trump administration to add insult to injury. All Americans must stand up and promote inclusion across the board.
Dallas Ducar is the clinical lead for Mental Health Services at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Transgender Health Program.
More:
Title IX and transgender athletes - The Boston Globe
- Low T Center bringing innovative testosterone treatment for men to Nevada with new Center in Las Vegas - April 29th, 2013 [April 29th, 2013]
- Testosterone doesn't boost functioning in older men - April 29th, 2013 [April 29th, 2013]
- FDA staff concerned about safety of Endo's testosterone injection - April 29th, 2013 [April 29th, 2013]
- Panel divided over safety of Endo's testosterone drug - April 29th, 2013 [April 29th, 2013]
- International Study Confirms Low Testosterone in 84 Percent of Lung Cancer Patients Taking Crizotinib - April 29th, 2013 [April 29th, 2013]
- Dr. Dan Engle on Onnit's T+ Testosterone Supplement - Video - April 29th, 2013 [April 29th, 2013]
- Myths About Testosterone (w/Emery) - Video - April 29th, 2013 [April 29th, 2013]
- FTM Jaycob: 1 Month on Testosterone - Video - April 29th, 2013 [April 29th, 2013]
- 41 Weeks on Testosterone - Video - April 29th, 2013 [April 29th, 2013]
- What Is The Best Testosterone Booster? - Video - April 29th, 2013 [April 29th, 2013]
- 9 months on testosterone - Video - April 29th, 2013 [April 29th, 2013]
- Can Excess Testosterone Levels Cause Man Boobs AKA Gynecomastia - Video - April 29th, 2013 [April 29th, 2013]
- Ninth Shot of Testosterone - Video - April 29th, 2013 [April 29th, 2013]
- 11 months on testosterone - Video - April 29th, 2013 [April 29th, 2013]
- Whats Better, Gels or Shots? (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) - Video - April 29th, 2013 [April 29th, 2013]
- Increase testosterone:Sleep In A Cold, Dark Room - Video - May 3rd, 2013 [May 3rd, 2013]
- Testosterone for Men - Video - May 3rd, 2013 [May 3rd, 2013]
- 'Shootout At Wadala': Out and out testosterone-driven gangster flick (Hindi Film Review) - May 4th, 2013 [May 4th, 2013]
- Tenth Shot of Testosterone (+ series recap) - Video - May 4th, 2013 [May 4th, 2013]
- Fourteen Weeks on Testosterone - Video - May 4th, 2013 [May 4th, 2013]
- BPA Linked with Lower Testosterone - May 8th, 2013 [May 8th, 2013]
- Fatherhood leads to a drop in testosterone, study finds - May 8th, 2013 [May 8th, 2013]
- 19 Weeks on Testosterone - Video - May 8th, 2013 [May 8th, 2013]
- Bush - Testosterone - Video - May 8th, 2013 [May 8th, 2013]
- 1 year - May 8th, 2013 [May 8th, 2013]
- FTM Emery 1 Year on Testosterone - Video - May 8th, 2013 [May 8th, 2013]
- 1year7months21days on testosterone - Video - May 9th, 2013 [May 9th, 2013]
- Fifteen Weeks on Testosterone - Video - May 9th, 2013 [May 9th, 2013]
- FTM Kris First day on testosterone - Video - May 9th, 2013 [May 9th, 2013]
- FTM: Introduction Testosterone Day 1 - Video - May 9th, 2013 [May 9th, 2013]
- 1 Year 6 Months of Testosterone, 2 Months Post-Op Top Surgery - Video - May 9th, 2013 [May 9th, 2013]
- INCREASE TESTOSTERONE - Video - May 9th, 2013 [May 9th, 2013]
- Testosterone Supplements: Best Test Supplement Reviews! - Video - May 9th, 2013 [May 9th, 2013]
- First Shot of Testosterone - Video - May 9th, 2013 [May 9th, 2013]
- BUSH - Testosterone - LIVE - Atlantic City - 5/4/13 - Video - May 9th, 2013 [May 9th, 2013]
- Testosterone Booster: Best Test Booster Review! - Video - May 9th, 2013 [May 9th, 2013]
- How to Increase Testosterone? My Stories! - Video - May 9th, 2013 [May 9th, 2013]
- Testosterone Supplements May Hurt Male Fertility, Study Finds - May 11th, 2013 [May 11th, 2013]
- Ten month on testosterone FTM update. - Video - May 11th, 2013 [May 11th, 2013]
- Dysphoria on Testosterone - Video - May 11th, 2013 [May 11th, 2013]
- Radiation From Cell Phones Lowers Testosterone? - Video - May 12th, 2013 [May 12th, 2013]
- t testosterone booster get your day started review - Video - May 12th, 2013 [May 12th, 2013]
- Testosterone - Expectations and Desires - Video - May 12th, 2013 [May 12th, 2013]
- Troxyphen testosterone booster (first look) - Video - May 12th, 2013 [May 12th, 2013]
- 4 Months 2 weeks on Testosterone/ cali update - Video - May 12th, 2013 [May 12th, 2013]
- Pro Testosterone Review. Restore Your Youthful Energy And Muscular Body With Pro Testosterone! - Video - May 13th, 2013 [May 13th, 2013]
- Testosterone: Three Months. - Video - May 13th, 2013 [May 13th, 2013]
- Heavy Overdoses on Testosterone - Video - May 13th, 2013 [May 13th, 2013]
- Bush "Testosterone," "Machinehead" (The Rave/Eagles Club, Milwaukee, WI, 5/8/2013) - Video - May 13th, 2013 [May 13th, 2013]
- "OSS-TEST" Number #1 Natural Testosterone Booster Testimonial Review - Video - May 13th, 2013 [May 13th, 2013]
- Testosterone Replacement Therapy Aside, Luke Rockhold's Focus Needs to Shift to UFC on FX 8 - May 15th, 2013 [May 15th, 2013]
- Male testosterone levels increase when victorious in competition against rivals, but not friends - May 15th, 2013 [May 15th, 2013]
- Tommy Testosterone working at Ed Reyes' place - Video - May 15th, 2013 [May 15th, 2013]
- Ask Dr. Bob: Testosterone, Dry Eyes - May 15th, 2013 [May 15th, 2013]
- Testosterone Levels Fluctuate During Sporting Events, Competitions - May 16th, 2013 [May 16th, 2013]
- Male testosterone levels increase after winning competition with rivals, but not friends - May 16th, 2013 [May 16th, 2013]
- How to Pronounce Testosterone - Video - May 16th, 2013 [May 16th, 2013]
- Study: Even in dominoes, testosterone a factor - May 17th, 2013 [May 17th, 2013]
- High-testosterone competitors more likely to choose red - May 17th, 2013 [May 17th, 2013]
- 16 Weeks on Testosterone - Video - May 17th, 2013 [May 17th, 2013]
- Higher testosterone, vegans or carnivores - Video - May 17th, 2013 [May 17th, 2013]
- Men's testosterone soars when their team wins, similar to war - May 18th, 2013 [May 18th, 2013]
- The TRUTH About Natural Testosterone Boosters - Video - May 18th, 2013 [May 18th, 2013]
- 4 months 3 weeks on Testosterone - Video - May 18th, 2013 [May 18th, 2013]
- 2 months on testosterone - Video - May 18th, 2013 [May 18th, 2013]
- Testosterone booster review. Testosterone booster Facts - Video - May 18th, 2013 [May 18th, 2013]
- AUA13: PCa Risk Not Elevated with Testosterone Replacement - Video - May 18th, 2013 [May 18th, 2013]
- Testosterone Side Effects Boynton Beach Florida - Video - May 18th, 2013 [May 18th, 2013]
- 1 year on testosterone - May 20th, 2013 [May 20th, 2013]
- Testosterone Replacement Therapy: Nothing To Be Ashamed Of: Strike First Nutrition - Video - May 20th, 2013 [May 20th, 2013]
- Warning: Avoid open flames if using testosterone gels - May 21st, 2013 [May 21st, 2013]
- Testosterone Therapy Medical Seminar; The Truth About Testosterone and Testosterone Therapy - May 21st, 2013 [May 21st, 2013]
- Male Testosterone Levels Increase with Win Against Rivals but Not Friends - May 21st, 2013 [May 21st, 2013]
- FTM Kris 2nd shot of testosterone - Video - May 21st, 2013 [May 21st, 2013]
- 1 Year On Testosterone Replacement Therapy (Whats Changed + My Future On T) - Video - May 21st, 2013 [May 21st, 2013]
- Testosterone Treatment For Men With Type 2 Diabetes - Video - May 21st, 2013 [May 21st, 2013]
- 3 Years on Low-Dose Testosterone - Video - May 21st, 2013 [May 21st, 2013]
- Kevin McClain: 6 Months on Testosterone - Video - May 21st, 2013 [May 21st, 2013]
- Testosterone and the Cardiovascular System: Friend or Foe? - Video - May 21st, 2013 [May 21st, 2013]
- FTM Vlog 33) 5 Weeks on Testosterone...moody hairy man-beast! - Video - May 21st, 2013 [May 21st, 2013]