Editorial: trans athletes should take part in sports
A new California proposal and a federal bill could potentially bar transgender athletes from participating in school sports. If the federal bill passes, any school that allows transgender athletes to compete in collegiate sports risks losing federal funding.
The Olympian staff opposes both bills and have come to the consensus that while we are supportive of transgender athletes, there are far more pressing issues to be addressed.
Banning transgender individuals from sports could have devastating results, especially for navigating youth who don’t yet understand what the world will throw at them in their attempt to live authentically. The unfortunate truth persists that many trans people are aware of the reality–threats, violence, objectification–they live in just because of their identity. Despite this fact, a majority of people in America refuse to even care or acknowledge their struggle, essentially turning a blind eye.
We discussed the controversy surrounding testosterone/estrogen use and Hormone Replacement Therapy in sports, and noticed a juxtaposition in the lack of concern towards trans men and a distinct hyperfixation on trans women. We at The Olympian believe that there is a bias in these policies, which target trans women, having a lot to do with society’s stark contrast in views on trans men and women.
Additionally, the fight for trans rights regarding equal bathroom policies, marriage legalities, and individual discretion of gender identity still burns strong. It brings up certain questions about how people in 2025 view gender, whether it be through the lens of transgender identity.
Many are misinformed, uneducated, and biased towards trans people. This reflects on larger issues that can come up in varying discussions such as ones like this. Some people have implicit bias towards transgender people whether it be based around personal experience, emotional connection, or simply misinformation.
An alarming number of people form opinions before thoroughly researching the facts. In actuality, it has yet to be proven that trans athletes have a competitive advantage over others. This highlights the difficult reality that even with scientific evidence in favor of trans rights, many refuse to see it and cling to their biases. Unfortunately, we’ve seen it happen before, and there are no signs of it stopping any time soon.
The issues that trans people face are high in number, and sports should not be the primary thing that the government chooses to tackle. Transgender people face threats to their safety and lives daily, and their identities are stripped from them. Meanwhile, hate crimes are normalized. Yet, it appears that the government seems to care much more about an issue that affects a small portion of the trans community, and take much less priority to a right to identity and physical safety. There are so many trans issues that deserve to be talked about in length and given the opportunity to be resolved, but for the foreseeable future, these divisive issues will take precedence so that people don’t have to acknowledge more pressing ones. Sports policies shouldn’t be taking priority over people’s lives, rights, and safety.
Trans people are understandably scared, and can you blame them? We simply ask that you look at the bigger picture and decide what matters most in ensuring that human beings have every civil and human right they deserve, no matter what their gender identity is.