Stuck on the Sidelines

Public Shaming: Brittney Griner Dunks, Makes WNBA History; Response? "She Must Be a Man!"

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 20:24:12 -0400

Public Shaming: Brittney Griner Dunks, Makes WNBA History; Response? "She Must Be a Man!":

In her WNBA debut, Brittney Griner made history with the 7th and 8th dunks ever in WNBA league history.

That’s right, Shawn! In addition Brittney Griner was also the FIRST woman in WNBA history to dunk twice in one game! And…

wait a second.

What’s with the hashtag you added there,…

The Cold War on Transgender Sports

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:59:15 -0400

The Cold War on Transgender Sports:

Orignally posted on Original Plumbing. @FTMquarterly

Everyone’s talking about it, but who’s doing something about it? This is an article to help start filling in the gaps.

Gender Games: The Olympics has a new way to test whether athletes are men or women. Is it fair?

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 21:00:31 -0400

Gender Games: The Olympics has a new way to test whether athletes are men or women. Is it fair?:

“The committee does not specify what testosterone level is disqualifying, in part because individuals’ measures can fluctuate. “We’ll leave those decisions with the experts,” Arne Ljungqvist, the chairman of the IOC’s medical commission, told the New York Times.”

This is so messed up - now we are regulating natural levels of testosterone - in my opinion, this is society dictating what is a woman is, and what a woman ain’t, and what this is, it ain’t right. Who is really going to suffer? Not male athletes. Also, is this really creating a fair playing field, when in reality, they are only creating an advantage to people they consider female?

Trans high schooler Seth Knop joins Michigan football team

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:38:49 -0400

Trans high schooler Seth Knop joins Michigan football team:

Title IX does protect him and his decision to play, but does it guarantee him playing time? His team, Grosse Pointe South High School has a mixed record early in the season, but we can only hope that he will be able to play as he chooses.

bell hooks makes an excellent point, that the limitation of...

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 10:01:12 -0400

bell hooks makes an excellent point, that the limitation of options (though oddly liberating to folks who are indecisive - which does partially show privilege too) illuminates the issues that many transgender athletes face. Since the Stockholm Consensus in 2004, trans athletes have been allowed to compete, however, in great limitation based off of arbitrary binary based expectations of hormone levels, the appearance/functionality of their genitalia and their legal status. If trans athletes do not follow this to a T (no pun intended), then they risk being eliminated from competition, even though for some folks, this realization may be physically, emotionally and financially impossible. The limitations of trans people and their bodies in sports (and all athletes for that matter) are making sports enthusiasts see bodies more critically than ever before, and trying to define male and female as such is often misjudged and trite - we need to find new ways to define the means for competition, and until then, the oppression of trans people continues.

anti-oppressivebabyanimals:

SUBMITTED BY: nextglass

I apologize for the post, sincerely. I did not put it up with the intention to offend anyone, or encourage offensive behavior. I admit that I am ignorant of transgender issues in athletics, but rugby has always been a very open environment to me and I want to help make sure it stays that way. I will take down this post and encourage my followers to do the same. Even if one person finds it offensive, that is one too much for me. Again, I apologize.

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 14:43:00 -0400

I appreciate your earnest response - it means a lot to me that someone cares. It’s important to recognize that this is a permeating part of rugby culture, and the gender roles are really messed up. These are dynamics come from a long line of assumptions and stereotypes, and we really get caught up in them. I want to thank you for posting, actually - I have been meaning to start a tumblr for the longest time, and this post, though the responses were infuriating, the acted as the catalyst to finally do it. Your sensitivity is so important in these circumstances and together we can collectively fight for gender liberation in sports.

When a player on the other team looks way too much like a man

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 09:58:00 -0400

There have been many comments on this post, many of which have brought up issues of fairness for folks playing women’s rugby and not looking like qualified players, based on the fact that someone “appears to be a dude in a dress.” This is extremely judgmental of players’ appearance and has little to do with their actual function in this competition, which is to play rugby. Enough said.

First off, though this is appears humorous, it is actually a huge crack against female athletes everywhere, alluring to the traditional stereotypes of sportswomen not being “women” because athletes have butch’d them up far beyond “female recognition,” and actually hurts female participants, regardless of their gender identities. Making this allusion effectively berates anyone who choses to present this way, and insinuates that this NOT an acceptable way to present as a female athlete.

Also, this post does nothing to respect those players who intend to have a specific aesthetic to their style or gender expression. All because a player participates on a women’s team, doesn’t mean that they actually identify with terms such as “female” or “woman,” but find their bodies better suited to participate within the category, based on a multitude of factors that are all very personal and are often biologically based. Folks who present in the manner in which this post implies are now being associated with trans folks (and even that, those who take testosterone), which can be completely inaccurate and will color the experience of those who are gender-non-conforming in sports, generating a hostile environment which in tradition has been an intentional act of some participants part to encourage these participants to leave teams, sport and overall competition.

On the topic of testosterone, I would wager that this is an example of what is to come for many TGNC participants in women’s sports - which will be a witch hunt to find out who is and isn’t taking testosterone. Much like what happen to Caster Semenya, many players will now be forced to prove that they are qualified to compete, and all it will take is a number of person making a stink. This is often humiliating to the player in question, like for Semenya, and for some, the result will be leaving competition completely from said embarrassment (effectively, the “saboteur” wins). Sadly, this also will create a boundary of what is “acceptable” for women’s competition, in which the bar will be set for women to stop at, and anyone who accelerates past that expectation will be questioned as “not being woman enough.” Ultimately, this is really just an extension of traditional misogynistic views on women’s athletics and sets the bar too low for female athletic aspirations.

Taking testosterone is illegal based on OIC guidelines unless a waiver is obtained with medical clearance through the OIC and/or other governing committee. Though I would see it as highly unlikely for USA Rugby or any other governing body to rule it acceptable for a female-assigned-at-birth participant acceptable, it is not out of the realm of possibility. Additionally, it could be argued that testosterone does not affect every body equally (truth) and has different effects on different folks, but this is another conversation entirely.

For those who also viewed this post, there is an implication that same unkind perceptions of trans women competing would also pan out, as some folks do not “pass” to their competitors’ views of what qualifies a female participant. Even folks who have undergone the OIC’s regulations, which require 2 years of hormone treatment, gender confirmation surgery (genitally based) and legal cross sex recognition will still undergo this scrutiny, when they still have every right to participate and thrive (USA Rugby ALSO abides by OIC’s policy). In this light, this post perpetuates the dehumanizing views of these legally participating sports women and only hurts women’s athletics in the long run. Need us forget what happened to Michelle Dumaresq and the transphobia she endured because of this prejudice.

fuckyeahwomensrugby:

You’re like:

For Transgender Triathlete, a Top Finish in New York Is Secondary

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 09:55:00 -0400

For Transgender Triathlete, a Top Finish in New York Is Secondary:

curiousaleta:

It’s great to see that the NY Triathalon’s organizing committee has a positive attitude. The question of transgendered athletes participating in sports is a complicated one. As much as I like to see all people participate in activities/sports that they love there are definitely hard questions to consider when discussing a transgendered athlete, particularly a female born male, competing at a very elite level. While part of me wants to say, “Good for them for going out and being an awesome athlete,” another part of me is aware that despite being a woman in most aspects of life, a transgendered woman often retains some of the physical advantageous associated with being male.

I’m not sure that the question of how to categorize transgendered athletes will be answered to satisfaction anytime soon, but I still like to see people getting out and competing at whatever level they can. So I wish good luck to Chris and all the other athletes competing tomorrow.

2012 London Olympics: Transgender Athlete Fails to Qualify

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 03:00:20 -0400

2012 London Olympics: Transgender Athlete Fails to Qualify:

Keelin Godsey came up short in his attempt to represent the United States in the women’s hammer throw.

Preach! anti-oppressivebabyanimals: [IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A BABY...

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 01:36:50 -0400

Preach!

anti-oppressivebabyanimals:

[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A BABY AFRICAN BULL ELEPHANT STANDS IN A FIELD OF GRASS, MOUTH OPEN & TRUNK EXTENDED. TEXT READS, “BABY ANIMALS FOR TRANS LIBERATION!”]

SUPPORT CECE MCDONALD!

PLEASE SEND A LETTER TO CECE WHILE SHE IS IN PRISON. LET HER (AND THE PRISON GUARDS) KNOW SHE HAS A HUGE AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND THAT WE’RE ALL HERE FOR HER.

GET THE DETAILS AND WRITE TO CECE: https://supportcece.wordpress.com/get-involved/write-cece/

GENERAL TIPS FOR WRITING TO SOMEONE WHO’S IN PRISON: http://www.prettyqueer.com/2012/05/04/how-to-write-your-first-letter-to-someone-in-prison/

SupportCeCe.wordpress.com

Just wanted to post a resource for folks who are looking for...

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 10:01:31 -0400

Just wanted to post a resource for folks who are looking for information about how to continue participating in sports from K-12 and collegiate levels. The NCAA has new regulations in place which are trans-friendly, but very binary focused.

GLSEN’s On The Team has a great amount of insight for folks who are trying participate in academically based programs - most states don’t have policies, but most folks rely on Title IX as a precedent to allow them to participate. Keeling Godsey, picture above had to address many of the gender regulations at Bates College and address issues of competition - no easy feat, but definitely worth it.

Renée Richards Documentary to Show in April

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 01:06:17 -0400

Renée Richards Documentary to Show in April :

Hope it’s good, and respectful!

therainbowmanifesto:

Advocate reports on the documentary about Renée Richards, the transgender woman who fought and won the right to compete in the women’s U.S. Open in the 1970s, will be part of the fifth annual Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival that kicks off April in Manhattan. Click to learn more about the festival.

Mr. Miss-Sir: Came out to my coach today

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 01:05:39 -0400

Mr. Miss-Sir: Came out to my coach today:

Congratulations! I can only help that your coach can be as supportive as possible.

barefootrunaway:

We had our one-on-one hitting session, but before it started, she called me into her office and addressed a fear that I’d had about “not belonging on a women’s tennis team.” I told her, yeah, I’m not a woman. I think she already knew. I mean, she did go to Mills, after all. She’s got intuition.

She was helpful, really helpful. She gave me a booklet and an article on transgender athletes and told me that I could talk to her or the athletic director at any time to discuss modifications in behavior and/or go over regulations.

Hammer Thrower Could Become First Transgender US Olympic Athlete

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 01:04:27 -0400

Hammer Thrower Could Become First Transgender US Olympic Athlete :

Notice that the world is so fascinated with Keelin’s ability to participate. He’s someone who disregards the expectations of bodies that fit into “men” and “women” competitors and defines them for himself, though he does so under Olympic guidelines which mandates that he participates as female. Is the media more concerned about the fact that suddenly the gendered competitive landscape has shifted or is it more concerned that the rules have just been reinterpreted to allow a new type of athlete to compete?

Are trans masculine folks more likely to participate in sports than trans feminine? Is the media focusing on his participation because it brings up the history of female athletes transitioning towards male, and how this may deter parents from allowing their daughters to compete, because it will “turn them into men?” How does this translate into the stereotypical linkages between lesbian identified, female athletes? How does this reflect lesbian/dyke community? Does it feel threatened by this FTM visibility as many have been in the past?

So many important questions. Let’s talk about it!

ryansallans:

I know some people will be critical of this article and Keelin who was born assigned female, but identifies as male (just has not undergone any medical treatments for his transition yet), due to the fact that he identifies as male but will be trying out for the Olympics as female.

I am NOT critical of him, but hopeful. The truth of the matter is, this is something he has worked long and hard toward, AND due to current policies the Olympics currently would not allow him to try out as a male. He has put his transition on hold to work toward his dream and I commend him for that. I wish him luck as he competes and hope that he goes down in our history books as the first transgender male to compete in the Olympics.

In fact, if someone has something negative to say, you can keep it to yourself on this one.

Click on the header to read the article.

-Ryan