Including Transgender People in Sport
THEMES
– Legislation
– Participation in sport
– Policies relating to sex and gender
TARGETED OBJECTIVES
Establish the necessary guidelines to facilitate the participation of transgender people in the practice of this sport, specifically those who compete in the B category (non-elite athletes).
MAIN INITIATIVE
In mid 2020, a coach and a mother of a transgender athlete approached the Austrian Figure Skating Association searching for answers. The case involved an athlete who was born and registered as male, yet whose gender identity was female, and wanted to be recognised as such by the Association to compete in the female category.
The Austrian Figure Skating Association (Skate Austria) initiated a process of evaluation, discussion and research to examine how other sports federations had dealt with this concern. Given the lack of a clear policy on the subject, the federation based their decision on the principle of equality and non-discriminatory legislation, and granted the athlete the right to participate in category B, according to their gender identity. However, the consequences of this initiative went further: a project assistant was hired to promote the drafting of the document that would serve as a transgender policy at the national level, and a guide was developed on how to address gender identity in this sport, as part of an action plan subject to periodic supervision.
Importantly, in August 2021, the International Skating Union (ISU) issued a transgender policy in its Communication No. 2422, which outlined how athletes would participate in international competitions based on their gender identity. National federations had opened the doors to a favourable regulation for the inclusion of transgender athletes.
BENEFICIARIES
Although this practice came in response to a specific case of a transgender minor, all transgender people who practice this sport will be beneficiaries.
IMPACT OF THE INITIATIVE
As a result of this initiative, a policy (resolution) came into force that allowed all transgender people to participate in figure skating (under category B), as long as they met the eligibility requirements. From this moment, the felt gender identity and not the sex or gender assigned at birth became the essential element to determine the sporting category in which one participates.
SUSTAINABILITY AND TRANSFERABILITY
The implementation of this policy was possible thanks to the involvement of the board of the association and the design of an action plan that was carefully supervised, which gave visibility to a reality that transgender athletes face. Information material and more work on this topic is planned.
Working groups on gender and sports were created throughout this process, and the door was left open for structural changes in the functioning and composition of the board of the association.
WEBSITE OR RELATED RESOURCES