Lycanthrope
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Lia Thomas is a 22 year old transgender swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania. Before transitioning, she competed as a man for three years, named Will Thomas. It is known she competed as a man as recently as November 2019. NCAA rules mandate as transgender Thomas had to undergo testosterone suppression therapy for at least a year before being eligible to compete as a woman.
On November 20th of this year, Thomas broke the university records for the 200M and 500M freestyle.
There is some difference in the NCAA rules regarding male to female and female to male athletes; a female to male athlete may compete in either men's or women's teams, unless they are receiving testosterone treatments in which case they may only compete with men; male to female may only compete after a year of testosterone suppression treatments. Source:
I bring this up because it is apparent there is a general consensus - female to male trans athletes receive no biological advantages that must be compensated for before competing with men (and indeed, once they start receiving testosterone treatments they can no longer compete with women; male to female athletes have to undergo hormone treatment to compensate for prior biological advantages that males have over females in terms of physiology (e.g. greater muscle max, higher potential VO2 Max, longer limbs, etc.) So the controversy surrounds the male to female trans, not so much the reverse.
Full disclosure - I am supportive of people expressing themselves as the gender they identify with. I think the recent hysteria and backlash towards them is unwarranted and reminiscent of the negativity homosexuals dealt with for decades and are only now seeing some progress in resolving (e.g. legalized marriage, general societal acceptance). So I am presenting this as someone who is sympathetic and not at all hostile to transgenderism. But athletics - a field where physiology and maximizing one's potential speed, strength, and endurance is a major determinant in success in many sporting events, does feel like a unique situation. Do male to female trans athletes have inherent advantages over athletes born female - advantages that cannot be negated by hormone treatment? If so, how do we accommodate for that while avoiding discriminating against anyone, be it the trans athlete or the others competing against them?
I know there are plenty who will simply say "born a man, you aren't competing as a woman - PERIOD." That's fine, the following isn't for you. If you are willing to at least consider the possibility of male to female trans athletes competing with athletes who were born female, how do you maintain a fair competitive field? My first thought is whether additional divisions can be created, but I doubt there are enough trans athletes to make that viable. My second thought is to "asterisk" the performances of such athletes, but how is that not exclusionary/failing to recognize them as fully legitimate participants? Hard to know what is the best course of action.
On November 20th of this year, Thomas broke the university records for the 200M and 500M freestyle.
UPenn transgender swimmer Lia Thomas sparks outrage by shattering women’s records
Lia Thomas, a 22-year old transgender swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania, has been shattering women’s records at the school.
nypost.com
There is some difference in the NCAA rules regarding male to female and female to male athletes; a female to male athlete may compete in either men's or women's teams, unless they are receiving testosterone treatments in which case they may only compete with men; male to female may only compete after a year of testosterone suppression treatments. Source:
Transgender people in sports - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
I bring this up because it is apparent there is a general consensus - female to male trans athletes receive no biological advantages that must be compensated for before competing with men (and indeed, once they start receiving testosterone treatments they can no longer compete with women; male to female athletes have to undergo hormone treatment to compensate for prior biological advantages that males have over females in terms of physiology (e.g. greater muscle max, higher potential VO2 Max, longer limbs, etc.) So the controversy surrounds the male to female trans, not so much the reverse.
Full disclosure - I am supportive of people expressing themselves as the gender they identify with. I think the recent hysteria and backlash towards them is unwarranted and reminiscent of the negativity homosexuals dealt with for decades and are only now seeing some progress in resolving (e.g. legalized marriage, general societal acceptance). So I am presenting this as someone who is sympathetic and not at all hostile to transgenderism. But athletics - a field where physiology and maximizing one's potential speed, strength, and endurance is a major determinant in success in many sporting events, does feel like a unique situation. Do male to female trans athletes have inherent advantages over athletes born female - advantages that cannot be negated by hormone treatment? If so, how do we accommodate for that while avoiding discriminating against anyone, be it the trans athlete or the others competing against them?
I know there are plenty who will simply say "born a man, you aren't competing as a woman - PERIOD." That's fine, the following isn't for you. If you are willing to at least consider the possibility of male to female trans athletes competing with athletes who were born female, how do you maintain a fair competitive field? My first thought is whether additional divisions can be created, but I doubt there are enough trans athletes to make that viable. My second thought is to "asterisk" the performances of such athletes, but how is that not exclusionary/failing to recognize them as fully legitimate participants? Hard to know what is the best course of action.