2004 - Transgender Athletes Compete
In 2004 the 2003 regulations for transgender athletes were enforced for the first time and openly transgender athletes were allowed to compete in the olympics. The significance of transgender athletes competing is incredible. One of the key points that I made throughout this website is to appreciate the progress that we have made as a society and this is a large jump.
The video above features me interviewing two experts in the field of sports. Julia Leventhal is a collegiate athlete and is a strong believer in a "level playing field." However, she still recognizes that transgender athletes have the right to compete as whatever gender they identify as, as long as they abide to rule that keep competition at a level playing field. I applaud Jules for this response. I think it is extremely mature, and tolerant to accept transgender athletes as a female athlete into athletics. It can be intimidating as a female to compete against a transgender athlete, but Jules is mature enough to recognize that fear or ignorance is no excuse for intolerance.
Jessica Andrews has performed extensive research on sports and sports reporting in the past. She is educated in the field and knows how marginalizing sports can be. She takes a firm stance that governing committees such as the international olympic committee have no right to impede on an athletes choice to compete as whatever gender they identify as. In fact, she goes as far as saying that they have no right to regulate gender specific sports and invade athletes' privacy. I also applaud Jessica for this stance. It is incredibly forward thinking, but also a bit unrealistic. The only part I don't agree with is the invasion of privacy. It is important that transgender athletes are tested, just like cisgender athletes are for anabolic hormones, for hormone levels that may give them an unfair advantage. It is extremely valuable to hear the opinions of various sources on these subjects so we can have the change that is needed in the world.
Jessica Andrews has performed extensive research on sports and sports reporting in the past. She is educated in the field and knows how marginalizing sports can be. She takes a firm stance that governing committees such as the international olympic committee have no right to impede on an athletes choice to compete as whatever gender they identify as. In fact, she goes as far as saying that they have no right to regulate gender specific sports and invade athletes' privacy. I also applaud Jessica for this stance. It is incredibly forward thinking, but also a bit unrealistic. The only part I don't agree with is the invasion of privacy. It is important that transgender athletes are tested, just like cisgender athletes are for anabolic hormones, for hormone levels that may give them an unfair advantage. It is extremely valuable to hear the opinions of various sources on these subjects so we can have the change that is needed in the world.
Sources:
- http://www.azquotes.com/quote/151779