D’Arcy Waldegrave: The far-reaching consequences of the transgender dispute in sport

OPINION:

The international swimming and league governing bodies were quick off the blocks this week as the topic of transgender athletes in sports returned to the news agenda.

Fina and IRL have decided
to effectively prevent transgender athletes from competing at the highest level of their sport. A number of other global sports federations are believed to be in a position to do the same.

There are firm opinions on both sides of the divide about the participation of trans athletes at the highest level in sport. It’s a debate that will continue for some time to come as sport grapples with the challenging nuance that surrounds inclusion for a marginalized segment of our community.

And it should go on like this for some time. It matters tremendously – not for the high achievers though, but for the unknown athlete who competes at the community level, for average teams in everyday leagues around the world. These are the people who must shoulder the hysteria unleashed by the voices of denial, the voices vociferously protesting and pushing the trans community further back.

This is not a monochromatic environment. As much as our society is built around the easy-to-understand concept of male and female, it is not that simple. Man is a complex carbon entity, not an off-the-shelf meat product. In some cases, we haven’t ended up exclusively with one gender or the other. For those who cannot comprehend the challenge of this part of our humanity, truth is a challenge and not easily accepted. The thought that there is more than just Adam and Eve is too much.

Top-class sport must act, because the voices of dissatisfaction create a cacophony that will not abate. I understand the concept of parity, but at the elite level, it’s a tricky one. Some athletes are just bigger, stronger and faster – they have a unique body makeup that accelerates them above others. You were born with advantages that cannot be balanced. Transgender athletes can fall into this category. A superficial “one size fits all” rule doesn’t fit comfortably in this space.

I welcome the discussion. We have never been confronted with such a triggering problem in sport. The basic human rights to “be” versus the challenge their unique situation poses.

There are no easy answers.

There are compelling and relevant arguments on both sides. Cis women’s right to compete on an equal footing versus men’s right to live their lives without judgment and with acceptance.

It is at the societal level – the setting in which most of us play sports or engage in our children’s sports – that the trans debate has the most far-reaching implications.
It is not a conscious decision to be born in the wrong body. This is a phenomenon that has a profound and overwhelming effect on a person. That’s bigger than a medal. This is deeper than a trophy. It is wrong to be judged and categorized in order to enjoy a basic human right.

The trans community is not out to destroy women’s sport. They just want to get on with their lives and enjoy the sport for what it is, as many people do.

We must be vigilant about the disastrous consequences that people face when dealing with such complex issues about their sexuality and gender.

My focus is on the mental health of these people, which is a far more important area to me than the rare case of a trans athlete who might win a medal or two.