“Transgender Issue in Sports Should Focus on Common Sense, and Testosterone – Opinion” (April 23, 2021) Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Mac Engel opines that “There is one need, and that is to ensure that competition is fair. Allow common sense, not ignorance, to have its place” in response to action by the Texas state legislature which approved a bill that would exclude trans athletes from girls’ and women’s competitive sports. Read the entire article here.
Women’s Sports Policy Working Group Denounces “Cancel Culture,” Releases Model State Statute and Gives Kudos to NCAA (April 15, 2021) Press Release.
The Women’s Sports Policy Working Group releases a model state statute. Read the press release here.
“The Fight for the Future of Transgender Athletes” (April 15, 2021) The Washington Post.
Will Hobson covers the waterfront with a comprehensive investigative report on the intersection of women’s sport, fair and safe competition, and social justice, including the WSPWG’s case for full science-based inclusion of trans girls/women in interscholastic, intercollegiate and Olympic women’s sports programs. Read the entire article here.
“Replacing Trans-athlete Bans with Policies Focused on Transition and Participation” (April 8, 2021) Outsports.
Cyd Zeigler opines that ending trans-athlete bans most likely will require a solution that includes some transition for competitive sports. Read the entire article here.
“’It’s so Hard’: As Trans Bans Spread, Experts Weigh How to Balance Fairness and Inclusion in High School Sports” (April 7, 2021) The74.com.
Kevin Mahnken explains why the debate over the participation of trans athletes in girls’ and women’s sports has moved from the playing fields to legislative chambers and courtrooms and how advocates are working on compromise between the necessities of competitive fairness and inclusion. Read the entire article here.
“N.C. Bill Goes too Far in Banning Transgender Girls from Female Sports. There are Options.” (April 5, 2021) The News & Observer.
Doriane Coleman, Juniper Eastwood, and Martina Navratilova pen an opinion strongly opposing North Carolina House Bill 358 which proposes to exclude all transgender girls from playing on all girls’ school sports teams. Read the entire article here.
“Women’s Rights Groups Back Transgender Athletes Competing in Female Sporting Events” (April 2, 2021) Fox News.
Caitlin McFall reports on women’s rights groups alleging that the debate over the inclusion of transgender girls and women participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity is being used as a “cudgel” used to attack The Equality Act. Read the entire article here.
“Whitley: Great Transgender Sports Debate” (March 29, 2021) The Gainesville Sun.
David Whitley asks, “Which group’s rights supersede the others?” and questions whether there is a middle way between total inclusion and totally banning transgender girls and women from women’s sports. Read the entire article here.
“How Do We Fairly Welcome Trans Athletes to Playing Fields?” (March 15, 2021) TroyMedia.com
Ken Reed advocates for experts in each sport to come together and decide on the specific rules for allowing fair competition. “There must be two goals here: protect Title IX for biological girls and accommodate the inclusion of trans athletes in sports as much as possible.” Read the entire article here.
“Political Dispute Over Transgender Rights Focuses on Youth Sports” (March 11, 2021) npr.org
Danielle Kurtzleben explains the national dispute over transgender rights in which state legislators have introduced 35 bills restricting transgender girls and women from playing on girls’ and women’s sport teams. Read the entire article here.
““While fighting HB112, transgender former UM runner Juniper Eastwood finds clarity on trails.” (February 14, 2021) 406MTSPORTS.com
Jeff Welch interviews transgender athlete Juniper Eastwood, the first transgender athlete to compete in an NCAA Division I cross country race. Eastwood reflects on the Montana legislative effort to bar transgender athletes from girls and women’s sports. Read the entire article here.
“Title IX advocates, former Olympians put forth recommendations for transgender female athletic competition, but transgender advocates are not happy” (February 4, 2021) Hartford Courant.
Lori Riley details both sides of the controversial issue of accommodating transgender girls and women in women’s sports. Read the entire article here.
“Group co-founded by Coleman addresses transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sport” (February 3, 2021) Duke Law.
Duke Law reports on nonpartisan initiative and recommendations for federal legislation based on physical sex-linked traits to preserve separate categories of sport for girls and women while also accommodating transgender women and girls. Read the entire article here.
“Army Of High-Achievers Calls On Team Biden To Find Middle Way In Transgender Female Rules To Protect Integrity and Fairness of Women’s Sport” (February 2, 2021) StateOfSwimming.com.
Craig Lord reports on high-profile athletes and other advocates for safety and fairness for women in sport in the United States proposing federal legislation to exempt girls’ and women’s competitive sports from President Biden’s recent executive order that mandates blanket transgender inclusion. Read the entire article here.
Women’s Sports Policy Working Group Announces Official Launch (February 2, 2021) Press Release.
The Women’s Sports Policy Working Group announced its official launch in an online press conference sponsored by Champion Women, kicking off an initiative to protect girls’ and women’s sports and accommodate transgender athletes. Read the entire press release here.
Sport leaders seek to protect women’s sports while accommodating transgender girls and women (February 1, 2021) USA Today.
Christine Brennan reports on high-profile women athletes and women’s sports advocates taking on the contentious issue of transgender girls and women in sports by proposing federal legislation that protects girls and women’s sport while ensuring a place for trans girls/women. Read the entire article here.
Who could object to the Equality Act? (October 24, 2020) The Economist.
The article warns of the dangers of denying the meaning of “sex” while discussing ways to prevent discrimination against transgender athletes. Speaking in favor of amending The Equality Act, proponents of keeping the current Title IX protection argue that ending discrimination against trans girls and women should not depend on discriminating against biological females. Read the entire article here.
Professor whose work is cited in HB500a, the transgender bill, says bill misuses her research and urges veto. (March 19, 2020) Idaho Press.
Nancy Hogshead and Doriane Coleman contend that Idaho was misusing their scholarship work in support of legislation that would bar all transgender girls and women from competing on girls’ and women’s school teams. Both contend that Idaho legislation was flawed because it permitted no exceptions or accommodations for trans athletes, even for students who have not experienced male puberty. Read the entire article. Read letter to Office of the Governor.
It’s not wrong to restrict transgender athletes. But base it on evidence, ethics. (March 18, 2020) AZcentral.com.
Doriane Coleman and Nancy Hogshead-Makar opine on Arizona’s legislation to ban transgender women and girls from competition, contending it is legally and scientifically flawed. Read the entire article.
Transgender sports debate polarizes women’s advocates. (July 22, 2019) The CT Mirror.
Donna Lopiano, former CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation, discusses the effect of post-pubescent testosterone on male sports performance as the basis for Title IX allowing separate sports programs for girls — because boys would have a clear biological advantage in sports. Trans girls and women should be included in women’s sports but competition structures must ensure that both trans and cis girls experience competitive fairness. Read the entire article.
Martina Navratilova explores issues faced by trans athletes in BBC documentary. (June 26, 2019) BBC.com.
Martina Navratilova explains why the struggles of trans girls and women should not be underestimated and why sport should change its rules so trans athletes are not excluded as a preface to a BBC documentary exploring the issue. Read the entire article.
Pass the Equality Act, but don’t abandon Title IX. (April 29, 2019) The Washington Post.
Doriane Coleman, Martina Navratilova and Sanya Richards-Ross authored an opinion piece urging Congress to pass The Equality Act while keeping Title IX’s promise of separate but equal opportunities for female athletes based on biological sex. They expressed concern that Congress would be denying science if our representatives ignored unequivocal scientific evidence that “starting in puberty, in every sport except sailing, shooting and riding, there will always be a significant number of boys and men who would beat the best girls and women in head-to-head competition.” Read the entire article here.