As hetero normativity rears its ugly head in sport, LGBT people continue to be at the receiving end with oppression and discrimination in sports taking centre stage. However it is mostly Trans persons who get to bear the brunt of not conforming to the gender binaries.

During a presentation at a sports seminar in Stockholm, USA based duo sports experts and LGBT rights activists, Pat Griffin and Hellen Carroll, shared experiences working with trans youth in sport.

They also spoke about challenges faced by trans persons at an individual,national and international level and highlighted how some policies make life in the sports field a nightmare for those who dare pursue their dreams as athletes.

Albeit all the insurmountable hurdles, Pat Griffin and Hellen Carroll also spoke of best practices where countries like Sweden can take a lead.

Participants also heard about the recent Swedish National Board For Youth Affairs publication focusing on LGBT youth and health. The book delves on improving health, creating safe spaces for LGBT youth participation in sports.

”Not forced”

There are a range of policies for the inclusion in sport. For example, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) requires complete medical transitioning and change of official id:s. While this is a step in the right direction, it still remains a restrictive policy.

This is because some trans people do not want to go through this whole process of medical transitioning and that leaves them between a rock and a hard place. This also makes invisible those who do not conform with the gender binaries.

A commendable example in Washington high schools were they use the self identification policy which means you can participate in sports as the gender you feel and on the side you want, then you are not forced to go for surgery or take hormones.

While some policies are allowing for trans persons to partake, the environment is not inclusive for instance when it come to the use of restrooms, pronouns and engaging with media and other sports people.

From experiences working with trans persons, Pat Griffin and Hellen Carroll shared why it is important to make the environment conducive and safe for trans athletes so they do not feel discriminated or violated.

– The sports world might be loosing on talent owing to heterosexist norms which make it difficult for trans people to continue engaging in sports, others end by giving up although they would have wanted to excel, says Hellen Carroll and continued:

– It is important that policies put in place are followed with action. Having proactive mechanisms put in place to deal with crises situations is essential. We must not wait until something happens to start thinking on how to react to a situation. Policies should account for applicable non discrimination laws.

It is also important, she said, to note how binaries also make invisible those who don’t identify as either genders in the sports world. While some trans people go for surgery and take hormones, others do not, this can be due to different reasons ranging from unavailability of funds, lack of supportive policies or not willing to do the process.

’Straight jackets’

For trans people who are in social transitioning, it has become a challenge to play in the team that they are comfortable with as they are guidelines to be followed for example at an international level.

Social transitioning involves behavior appearance characteristics that express ones gender identity, changes in name, pronoun and voice. It does not necessarily include undergoing a medical processes.

The challenge being faced by those in social transitioning is that because of the way they present they are often mistaken or identified with the other sex, this is also a hetero-normative way of looking at people.

Fixed assumptions are made about those how do not fit into binary and decisions are made for them when it comes to accessing places such as bathrooms and changing rooms.

Stereotypes and gendered view of society where everything has to fit neatly in ’straight jackets’, isolates, makes invisible and inhibits participation of trans people in sport.

However in order for trans persons not to feel segregated, it’s best to have structures that address needs of the whole group as well, so it would mean having a separate bathroom which can be used by anyone who does not want to use the public spaces available.

In this case the focus is on inclusion and not exclusion. This is important because the trans persons wont feel like they are alone or their confidentiality is being breached by making them use own spaces when they are also part of a team.

Myth

Carroll added that at times this idea of inclusion becomes a challenge when fanatical religious groups also bring up the issue of ’morals’

’They can go on a rampage about a man being in a women’s dressing room, issues of ’immorality and perversion are brought to the table. This can be a set back as it influences people to react in a bad way towards the idea of inclusion. It becomes difficult to make the spaces safe for trans persons to participate when religion is used to limit or justify certain policies or behavior which is discriminatory towards trans persons. One way to go about it, is to have straight sportsperson allies who can also speak on issues of inclusion and non discrimination.’

During the meeting it also emerged that the issue of level playing field is a contentious issue , as it is debatable what makes a level playing field.

It is mind boggling that such questions are only raised when ’women’ participate in sport.

– Level playing field is a myth we know now better than before that there is an overlap between sexes in things such as size, strength and skill yet these are variations within one sex designation that can also influence the playing field, says Pat Griffin.

Hormone tests

When the question of competitive advantage is used against trans persons participating in sport, it is just a mere ploy to discourage trans persons from participating.There are other factors than have given some people competitive advantage over others yet these are not questioned.

For example we never question technology, environment, social, genetic or physical and medical advantages that may bring competitive advantage to other athletes but when there is a trans person we are quick to bring out that topic.

It is disturbing how the hormone testosterone is the bone of contention in the sports arena. It is mostly where women are concerned that the issue comes up.

You never hear questions about a male athlete being forced to go under a test to determine his testosterone levels because he is exceptionally good.

It is always women who have to go through humiliating, frustrating tests to see how much testosterone is in their bodies and whether that does not give them competitive advantage over others.

The issue also explains how society reinforces patriarchal views of what is or what isn’t a man or a woman. This instills the view that men have an inherent right to dominate as women who dare follow suite are questioned interrogated and treated with suspicion.