Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Title: Conflicting ideas of fairness in women's sports fuel transgender participation debate
Link To: Article (https://www.reuters.com/sports/tennis/conflicting-ideas-fairness-womens-sports-fuel-transgender-participation-debate-2026-08-28/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Author: Nicole Fernandes
Date: August 28, 2026 12:21 PM UTC Updated ago
Trigger Warning: None

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Brief summary of the article
Reuters reports that recent WNBA comments and new eligibility policies from the WTA and International Olympic Committee have renewed debate over transgender participation in women's sports. The article presents differing views from athletes and advocacy groups about fairness, inclusion, sex testing and the impact of eligibility rules on transgender women and athletes with differences in sex development.

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Main Points of the Article
"Recent controversy in the WNBA has reignited the debate about transgender participation in women's sports, with advocacy groups split over differing ideas of fairness."

"At the heart of the debate are conflicting views on fairness."

"We should ⁠be talking about removing barriers (for) women and girls to access sports and not adding to them."

"There are no active openly transgender players on the WTA or in the WNBA, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics marked the first time an openly transgender woman – New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard – competed at the Games."

"Trans women are not just going to compete in the men's category. They're just not going to compete at all."

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Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator

I'm curious where people stand on this particular issue.

For me I can totally see a valid point in bans where transwomen have a physical advantage over CIS women competitors. There have been many examples where the mismatch is huge. These will be seized upon by the media and used as a stick to beat us with. I feel we should be choosing our battles at this time and not putting more wood onto the fire. However this should only be true of elite level sport and only sports where a clear genetic advantage is present. But trans participation in womens sport must be actively encouraged at grass roots and amateur levels as it is important for health and well being.

That's my view, where do you stand?

Quote from: Stottie Girl on August 28, 2026, 05:29:45 PMI'm curious where people stand on this particular issue.

I can see that there *might* be sports in which trans women have an advantage over cis women.  I am not convinced there are any, but I acknowledge that there could be.  And I think that there are sports in which trans women have no advantage or are even at a disadvantage.

So the solution is to have individual sport governing bodies, in conjunction with kinesiologists, determine whether or not there is an unfair advantage in their sport and make regulations accordingly.  Or just get rid of gendered categories completely and let men and women, cis and trans compete freely against each other.

What is absolutely wrong is for politicians who have no @#$% idea what they are talking about just make up fearmongering lies in order to eliminate trans women from public life.

Body composition and physical fitness in transgender versus cisgender individuals: a systematic review with meta-analysis
National Institute of Health
2026 Feb 11

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41633803/

While transgender women exhibited higher lean mass than cisgender women, their physical fitness was comparable. Current evidence is mostly low certainty and has heterogenous quality but does not support theories of inherent athletic advantages for transgender women over cisgender.

New Study Once Again Shows Trans Women Have No Physical Advantage Over Cis Athletes
Researchers analyzed data from almost 3,000 trans women.
Them -  Samantha Riedel February 05, 2026

https://www.them.us/story/new-study-trans-women-no-physical-advantage-over-cis-athletes

We are all different, I have been on HRT for 7 years, and post op for 5 years, but I process drugs differently from other people. I am 72, and attend a gym class with people my age, and I am clearly the strongest in the class, including all the men. I know this, and would never compete in strength sports against cis women. This imbalance of strength is a dysphoria trigger for me, as it reminds me that I am not the same as cis women.

Australia currently has a Sex Discrimination Act which holds Gender Identity as a protected asset (though it is under heavy attack from the right wing), but it has a clause which exempts discrimination protection in cases where there is demonstrated unfairness or safety issues. This allows individual sporting bodies to make individual rulings on eligibility, and it has worked very well.

Community level sport is about health and engagement, and should be available to all. Elite sport is now about money. Physical advantage has been celebrated over fairness for hundreds of years. If fairness was the benchmark in elite sport, there would only be non gendered performance categories, so it is really about the spectacle, sponsors, and prestige. It makes sense that there should be differences in competitive criteria for the different levels.

Gender Incongruent sports competitors are statistically insignificant in all levels of sport, so the idea that they could have their own competitions simply reflects the proposers lack of knowledge. That it has become a publicly debated issue is clearly not about fairness in sport, but a right wing dog whistle for bigots and people who have no knowledge of gender incongruent people. We won't change the right wing, or the bigots, but we can bring about change in the people who simply don't know who trans people actually are.

Hugs,

Allie

Quote from: Stottie Girl on August 28, 2026, 05:29:45 PMI'm curious where people stand on this particular issue.

For me I can totally see a valid point in bans where transwomen have a physical advantage over CIS women competitors. There have been many examples where the mismatch is huge. These will be seized upon by the media and used as a stick to beat us with. I feel we should be choosing our battles at this time and not putting more wood onto the fire. However this should only be true of elite level sport and only sports where a clear genetic advantage is present. But trans participation in womens sport must be actively encouraged at grass roots and amateur levels as it is important for health and well being.

That's my view, where do you stand?

Can you cite those examples, please?

My personal belief is that sports should be fair. Run the race. Throw the javelin. Hit the ball back and forth. The winner should win, end of. If you're a man or woman shouldn't matter, because it's about the event, not anyone's particular feelings about how they placed in the event.

Quote from: Devlyn on August 29, 2026, 01:42:28 AMCan you cite those examples, please?

My personal belief is that sports should be fair. Run the race. Throw the javelin. Hit the ball back and forth. The winner should win, end of. If you're a man or woman shouldn't matter, because it's about the event, not anyone's particular feelings about how they placed in the event.

There are the obvious examples that are highly public and have been all over the media (which is kind of my point) we all know what/who they are. I'm not going to cite them all as I'm not interested in an argument, I was just interested in people's own personal views on the subject.

I know for sure that whilst I am massively less strong than I used to be I am still way stronger than most CIS women I have met and I have been on HRT for 4-5 years at least. I have been doing zero sports training too. Clearly I have a physical advantage here. I would not enter into any direct competition with a CIS woman in the interests of fairness. There are obviously other areas where CIS women have had the advantage over me. Cycling for example. CIS women are soo much lighter than me and can zip up hills better than I could even when I was really quite fit.

It's not an easy situation which is probably why blanket banning is easier for sporting bodies but my issue was more about damage limitation at this time of persecution. Should we let them have a temporary win if it quietens the distrust and anger aimed at us? We can always address this later when the pendulum swings back to the left.

I literally swing a golf club like a woman!  In order for me to get distance I need to use my lower body and flexibility and can't rely upon upper body strength.

Teeing off and hitting my drives better than some men gives me a huge psychological advantage.
They have difficulty dealing with the fact that they just got out driven by someone someone much smaller than them wearing a skirt.  Before, they could just use the excuse that I was playing from the women's or Foward tees.  But this year I moved up to play whatever tees they are using!
My second shot is better.  I have excellent ball striking skills and can hit a fairway wood as far as driver or dig it out of thick rough with an 8 iron. I'm also a fearless bunker player with two sandy pars this year!
It is rare to find someone who is creative on the golf course without the anxiety issues that normally come  with that.

In competitive sports at high level it is ALL about result and placement.

Because of this there will always be an issue with transgender women.
There have been many issues around cis women with hyper androgyny and trans women have a lot more "suspicions" around their ability and possible advantages due to body length and possible strength advantages.

I am not saying anything about science and I am most certainly not against trans women. But the above is true regardless of what we all would want.

Quote from: Stottie Girl on August 29, 2026, 03:27:33 AMThere are the obvious examples that are highly public and have been all over the media (which is kind of my point) we all know what/who they are. I'm not going to cite them all as I'm not interested in an argument, I was just interested in people's own personal views on the subject.

This is a highly charged debate and one that I'm cautious about entering as I'm well aware my views are unwelcome and probably offensive to most of the trans community. The last thing I want to do is to upset or offend anyone in this forum and I apologise in advance if that is the case but Sarah asked for views and so here goes:

I've been competed seriously in various endurance athletic events up to international age group standard. I would never compete as a woman. It is true that I have not transitioned with hormones and if I had I accept that I would lose a lot of my muscular strength but I would still retain features that I acquired by going through male puberty:

Skeletal structure — wider shoulders, longer limbs, larger bone mass, slimmer and more mechanically effective hips.
Heart size — greater stroke volume.
Lung capacity — higher VO₂ potential.
Muscle fibre distribution — even after hormone therapy, some advantages would persist.

These traits matter enormously in endurance sport. They are not things I can "train away," nor things hormones fully reverse. They are simply part of the body I developed through male puberty. Recognising this doesn't make me less of a woman. It just means I'm honest about the physiology I carry. Of course many cis women have some or all of these characteristics but I think it is only fair that they have the right to compete in their own space.

In recent years, several well publicised situations, such as a UK cycling case, the US collegiate swimming controversy and debates around Parkrun age group records have drawn intense media attention. These cases involved individuals who, rightly or wrongly, became symbols in a wider cultural debate.

The unfortunate consequence of this is that the actions of a very small number of people have shaped public perception of the entire trans community, often in ways that are unfair and deeply damaging. Most trans women simply want to live quietly, authentically and without causing harm. Yet the headlines tend to focus on the most contentious examples and the nuance gets lost.

I'm not criticising individuals nor am I attacking anyone's identity. I'm simply acknowledging that the media spotlight on a handful of cases has had a disproportionate impact on how society views trans women in general, the vast number who live quietly, respectfully and without seeking any advantage. The sports field is a difficult battleground on which to fight for trans rights.

Spot on, Christina.

@Christina152

Exactly this. Very well said. It sucks to be those trans competitors who might loose out and they will feel that they cannot compete fairly in mens sport nor would they want to. I do have sympanthy with them but in the interests of fairness or when their results are causing harm to the wider trans community due to negative public perception then rightly or wrongly I do not think they should compete against women AT ELITE LEVEL.

I can see this is a devisive subject among us here. It is interesting to see the viewpoints from both sides of the debate.

I've been involved in women's sports on Euro Championship level, in a sport where size is very important. It goes without saying that those who have gone through male puberty and later transitioned, would be looked upon with very, very suspicious eyes. Even to the point of it really being downright unfair.

So, regardless of whether a person has transitioned and is, in fact, and for all circumstances but being cis, a woman - there will be an advantage.

I am very open to changing my view, if it can be changed while still considering that result and placement is the absolute only measure in that level of competition (because it is).

Quote from: KathyLauren on August 28, 2026, 05:54:43 PMWhat is absolutely wrong is for politicians who have no @#$% idea what they are talking about just make up fearmongering lies in order to eliminate trans women from public life.

I agree with this wholeheartedly, of course.

Quote from: Allie Jayne on August 28, 2026, 06:47:58 PMThat it has become a publicly debated issue is clearly not about fairness in sport, but a right wing dog whistle for bigots and people who have no knowledge of gender incongruent people.

Very true.
The public debate is not really about the fairness, but about finding a group of people that can be blamed for whatever things and for whatever cause. All for the possible political gains AND for the medias economic gain from creating fuzz and reactions. Sad, but probably true.

Elite sports have a much bigger issue with drug cheats than trans athletes.

But, of course, it's much easier to single out trans athletes than search for those cheating.

It's not only the elite level that has this problem.

High level amateur sport is also riddled with drug cheats

Quote from: Petunia on August 29, 2026, 08:20:54 AMElite sports have a much bigger issue with drug cheats than trans athletes.
But, of course, it's much easier to single out trans athletes than search for those cheating.
It's not only the elite level that has this problem.
High level amateur sport is also riddled with drug cheats

Yes, of course! There's much more actual problem from illegal drugs than from trans women, but that is not really related to the issue being created ref trans women.
The trans women issue in media/politics is created because it can be created and because the general public is gullible (for lack of a better word) into silently tagging along with things. Horrible, but probably true.

Part of the issue is that, in patriarchal societies, women are viewed as the "weaker sex". In past ages, they were viewed as less intelligent, inferior, and were not permitted to participate in political or religious debates. Those stereotypes still exist despite science proving otherwise. It took decades of effort just for American women to gain the right to vote in 1920.

I see the women's sports issue as an extension of that. No one is crying because trans men are in the locker rooms, showers, bathrooms, or competing and winning competitions against cis men. Why not? Because, using their own logic, their egos cannot handle the idea that they got "beat by a girl." But they also think of women as being weaker and needing protection from predators who would take advantage of them. So the sports/bathrooms are the perfect place to focus the crosshairs.

It doesn't matter (as we have read above) that studies have shown that the advantages disappear while on hormone therapy over time. Even within our own community, there are people who believe the stereotype, or even embrace it as a desirable trait. It doesn't matter that statistics show that transgender women are not misbehaving in restrooms, are not committing mass shootings and other violent crimes, and, in fact, are more likely to be the victim in a confrontation or criminal act.

Media, especially social media, is a political propaganda machine. It is used every day to spread false and misleading information to shape public perception for an agenda. Politicians do it, advertisers do it, organizations do it, and the public eats it up and helps to spread it around.

So what is the source? If we step back and take a hard look at the core of what "genetic advantage" implies, it is inherently racist. The Far Right™ is clearly a White Christian National movement. But due to the backlash from prior civil rights movements, no one wants to be labeled as a racist. And yet, civil rights were denied to a major chunk of our population based solely upon genetic and cultural differences.

The "genetic advantage" in sports is a false flag. No one is suggesting banning East Africans from running marathons, despite the fact that they consistently win due to cultural advantages and a willingness to train extensively to enhance them. No one is suggesting banning other races from sports due to their biological advantage, despite medical testing, historical studies, and other evidence that they have a "genetic advantage".

When we allow governing bodies to use that criterion to strip civil rights, well, as the saying goes: "Give them an inch, and they will take a mile."

That's my take on it.

I will admit that I flip flop a lot over this topic. A lot.
But if I must choose a lane and stick to it then here's how I feel:
One size does not fit all. While I appreciate that the trans community generally wants to rally around the statement that "trans women are women. Period. End of discussion" it does also open the door for transphobes and critics to attack the trans community. Sports is the perfect example.
I don't think it's one size fits all and I don't think that if you simply identify as a trans woman then you can automatically participate in women's sports. There has to be some additional guardrails in place that goes beyond self selection and how you identify.
- rules for pro sports have to be different from recreational sports
- the type of sport is critical (especially contact sports like boxing, rugby etc)

Certain factors have to be considered such as
- when did the person transition (pre or post male puberty)
- how long have they been on HRT (versus someone like myself who is not on HRT and is biologically male based on any medical test). We have to be objectively reasonable.

I understand why many trans people hate the above approach because it feels like an eligibility test and that can feel like discrimination. I get it and that's why I flip flop on the subject. But we have to choose our battles for acceptance and equality and we cannot win every battle all at the same time. Perhaps our trans community has to choose when and where to fight battles. We might be a few decades too early in the sports topic but it's giving the conservatives so much ammunition to attack us.

I'm ok with there being more governance over the topic.

I agree Lori. Ulterior motive.

In my chosen sport at my level they allow men, women, boys and girls to compete together in graded levels of tbe sport.

I've seen men quit when beaten by women.

I've had new competitors say to me "what hapoens when you get beaten by a woman."

I just say relax, it will hapoen so get over it. You'll also get beaten by 14 year olds as well when they start maturing.

Egos. Pfft.

Quote from: Jillian-TG on August 29, 2026, 08:41:19 AMI will admit that I flip flop a lot over this topic. A lot.

Jillian, you summed it up perfectly.
💕

If you want another perspective from the inside, read some of the posts by our member BlueJaye. She has been through this from "our side," and this comment hit home for me:

Quote from: BlueJaye on September 22, 2024, 10:42:31 PMI don't think that's really it. My experience with USA Boxing showed me that it's really about protecting a brand image and keeping undesirable people out of their sport.

Well said, Katie.

Quote from: Lori Dee on August 29, 2026, 08:40:31 AMEven within our own community, there are people who believe the stereotype, or even embrace it as a desirable trait.

As I know that my views on this might be erroneously interpreted as "believeing the stereotype" wrt my previous posts in this thread, I want to emphasize that I absolutely rely on, and believe in, the scientific investigations and reports. I have lived in science all my life and that does not change just because I am now transfemme.

I also think that Lori Dee's post is both reasonable and relevant.
I also think that Jillian's post is both reasonable and relevant.

It is quite possible to view many things from several different angles, each angle then comes with its own rationale and feelings which may be contradictory with the view from other angles.

Per aspera ad Astra!

Quote from: Lori Dee on August 29, 2026, 08:40:31 AMPart of the issue is that, in patriarchal societies, women are viewed as the "weaker sex". In past ages, they were viewed as less intelligent, inferior, and were not permitted to participate in political or religious debates. Those stereotypes still exist despite science proving otherwise. It took decades of effort just for American women to gain the right to vote in 1920.

I see the women's sports issue as an extension of that. No one is crying because trans men are in the locker rooms, showers, bathrooms, or competing and winning competitions against cis men. Why not? Because, using their own logic, their egos cannot handle the idea that they got "beat by a girl." But they also think of women as being weaker and needing protection from predators who would take advantage of them. So the sports/bathrooms are the perfect place to focus the crosshairs.

It doesn't matter (as we have read above) that studies have shown that the advantages disappear while on hormone therapy over time. Even within our own community, there are people who believe the stereotype, or even embrace it as a desirable trait. It doesn't matter that statistics show that transgender women are not misbehaving in restrooms, are not committing mass shootings and other violent crimes, and, in fact, are more likely to be the victim in a confrontation or criminal act.

Media, especially social media, is a political propaganda machine. It is used every day to spread false and misleading information to shape public perception for an agenda. Politicians do it, advertisers do it, organizations do it, and the public eats it up and helps to spread it around.

So what is the source? If we step back and take a hard look at the core of what "genetic advantage" implies, it is inherently racist. The Far Right™ is clearly a White Christian National movement. But due to the backlash from prior civil rights movements, no one wants to be labeled as a racist. And yet, civil rights were denied to a major chunk of our population based solely upon genetic and cultural differences.

The "genetic advantage" in sports is a false flag. No one is suggesting banning East Africans from running marathons, despite the fact that they consistently win due to cultural advantages and a willingness to train extensively to enhance them. No one is suggesting banning other races from sports due to their biological advantage, despite medical testing, historical studies, and other evidence that they have a "genetic advantage".

When we allow governing bodies to use that criterion to strip civil rights, well, as the saying goes: "Give them an inch, and they will take a mile."

That's my take on it.

And when those very same women insist that they shouldn't play chess against men, or who they see as men, they are admitting it is true. Thereby shooting themselves in the foot.

Quote from: Finally Anna on August 29, 2026, 09:45:12 AMAs I know that my views on this might be erroneously interpreted as "believeing the stereotype" wrt my previous posts in this thread, I want to emphasize that I absolutely rely on, and believe in, the scientific investigations and reports. I have lived in science all my life and that does not change just because I am now transfemme.

I also think that Lori Dee's post is both reasonable and relevant.
I also think that Jillian's post is both reasonable and relevant.

It is quite possible to view many things from several different angles, each angle then comes with its own rationale and feelings which may be contradictory with the view from other angles.

Per aspera ad Astra!

Well said, Anna.

And I did not intend it to be derogatory in any way. I am not pointing fingers.

There are religious groups that view women as "lesser" and something to be protected, and many embrace that perception due to indoctrination, religious beliefs, or because it is a role they wish to fill for their own personal reasons.

Others may view the roles as an affirmation of femininity, and so adopt that as part of their persona.

Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and decisions on how to live their lives. I am not knocking that.

I just see the source as amplifying that role through propaganda to "force" everyone into the same box and doing it to limit their participation in society as a whole. That seems to be part of the core agenda.

Lori Dee, no offense taken and I did not feel pointed at. Was just that I realised that my posts could be read in a way that is different from how my mind is wired.
🥰

Quote from: Lori Dee on August 29, 2026, 01:01:44 PMWell said, Anna.

And I did not intend it to be derogatory in any way. I am not pointing fingers.

There are religious groups that view women as "lesser" and something to be protected, and many embrace that perception due to indoctrination, religious beliefs, or because it is a role they wish to fill for their own personal reasons.

Others may view the roles as an affirmation of femininity, and so adopt that as part of their persona.

Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and decisions on how to live their lives. I am not knocking that.

I just see the source as amplifying that role through propaganda to "force" everyone into the same box and doing it to limit their participation in society as a whole. That seems to be part of the core agenda.

If we as a community also embrace the propaganda, our detractors can point to our very own posts and say "See, even the transes don't think they should be allowed in sports!"

There have been mentions of unfair advantage in this thread, but anything more than a cursory look at the propaganda reveals that the claims rely heavily on the same very limited and exaggerated cases of transgender wins:

Laurel Hubbard? No Olympic wins, she didn't even complete her lift. Yes, she medalled at a few smaller regional competitions.

Rachel McKinnon? She won gold twice... but the woman who complained about her had actually beaten Rachel 10 times out of 12.

Lia Thomas? She won the 500m freestyle at the 2022 NCAA event. At the same event she finished 5th in the 200m and 8th (last place) in the 100m. Riley Gaines, who complained? She tied Thomas for 5th in a different event.

There are more, like a disc golfer (Riley Gaines couldn't keep her mouth shut about that either), a darts player, a nonbinary soccer player, a basketball player (both obviously team events where a single player only contributes so much).

Nobody takes estradiol for a competitive advantage. No trans women* have ever won a medal at the Olympics. Laurel Hubbard is the only transgender woman to even make it to the Olympics.

If there's such a huge advantage, where are all the wins? Why aren't transgender women dominating all sports?



*Quinn is non-binary, not a transgender woman.

Somebody I feel sorry for is Caster Semenya.

Assigned female at birth, identifies as female but has natural advantages in her chosen events.

It's a long story of being singled out for having a natural advantage and being turned into a guinea pig while competing.

It's not a case of being transgender it is a case of competetive advantage.

So what is fair in sport. Compared to the general population, all elite athletes have some level of natural advantage.

Quote from: Petunia on August 29, 2026, 03:07:20 PMSomebody I feel sorry for is Caster Semenya.

Assigned female at birth, identifies as female but has natural advantages in her chosen events.

It's a long story of being singled out for having a natural advantage and being turned into a guinea pig while competing.

It's not a case of being transgender it is a case of competetive advantage.

So what is fair in sport. Compared to the general population, all elite athletes have some level of natural advantage.

Honestly, every Olympic level athlete is firmly in freak territory.

It is inherently difficult, impossible even, to have nuanced and flexible discussions and arguments via internet. This applies to most every subject.
I'll rest there.
😉