(News) FINA bans trans women from women's swimming

[URBEX Squad]

FINA has recently announced new regulations that will prevent many trans women from competing as who they are.
The new regulations stipulate that any trans woman who has been through male puberty may not compete on a woman's team.

This is neither fair, or inclusive in my opinion.
However, they have announced an open category where anyone can compete "regardless of sex or gender identity".

Male competition "will be open to all".

"FINA will always welcome every athlete. The creation of an open category will mean that everybody has the opportunity to compete at an elite level. This has not been done before, so FINA will need to lead the way. I want all athletes to feel included in being able to develop ideas during this process."

This may have a trickle down effect to smaller national leagues.

What are your opinions on this ruling by FINA?

 

[agarriberri]

I agree with FINA. It's actually a measured response, instead of just applying a blanket ban. People who transition after puberty stay with the biological characteristics of their original sex, i.e bone structure, which gives them an advantage, which doesn't happen to people who transition before.

 

[URBEX Squad]

I agree with FINA. It's actually a measured response, instead of just applying a blanket ban. People who transition after puberty stay with the biological characteristics of their original sex, i.e bone structure, which gives them an advantage, which doesn't happen to people who transition before.

I don't know. I'm a trans woman and I take estrogen, I don't think I could compete with a cis or trans man. I don't think many trans women can. Justy opinion. What happens with those that can't compete against cis or trans men?

 

[agarriberri]

I don't know myself. My opinion on this changes by the day. Sometimes I think it's unfair, other times I remember that the number of trans people is extremely small and it's just a scare tactic. Everyone says something different. What I do agree is that the issue needs to be handled by experts, otherwise trans people will just be even more marginalised and demonised.

 

[MyaSat]

Interesting perspective. Good job, FIFA.

 

[ravenraritie]

I think it's absolutely fair, good job FINA. The presence of an open category means they will still be able to compete without putting others at a disadvantage. This is inclusive. Forcing women to compete against biological males is not. Hopefully other sports associations follow.

 

[ravenraritie]

I don't know. I'm a trans woman and I take estrogen, I don't think I could compete with a cis or trans man. I don't think many trans women can. Justy opinion. What happens with those that can't compete against cis or trans men?

"What happens with those that can't compete against cis or trans men? "

The same thing that happens to cis men who can't win against their cis male opponents -- they lose. Nothing special.

 

[URBEX Squad]

"What happens with those that can't compete against cis or trans men? "

The same thing that happens to cis men who can't win against their cis male opponents -- they lose. Nothing special.

It isn't fair though because you're effectively telling trans women they don't have a place in sports. Trans men get to compete in men's competition, cis men get to compete, cis women get to compete, but trans women should just suck it up and quit sports? No. Trans women aren't men. I find your suggestion a bit unkind.

 

[URBEX Squad]

I think it's absolutely fair, good job FINA. The presence of an open category means they will still be able to compete without putting others at a disadvantage. This is inclusive. Forcing women to compete against biological males is not. Hopefully other sports associations follow.

No it doesn't mean they'll be able to compete, it just allows cis men to feel better about themselves because they can take advantage of the new open category to compete against trans women and dominate against them despite one group being at a severe disadvantage on estrogen treatment. Why should trans women accept being at a disadvantage to literally everyone else yet cis women and cis men don't?

 

[ravenraritie]

No it doesn't mean they'll be able to compete, it just allows cis men to feel better about themselves because they can take advantage of the new open category to compete against trans women and dominate against them despite one group being at a severe disadvantage on estrogen treatment. Why should trans women accept being at a disadvantage to literally everyone else yet cis women and cis men don't?

"they can take advantage of the new open category to compete against trans women and dominate against them despite one group being at a severe disadvantage " -- This is ironically exactly what trans women are doing to women right now. Female students are being kicked off their school teams for not wanting to change clothes in the same locker room as a biological man. That is where we're at right now.

"Trans women aren't men. " -- That's a matter of opinion, and clearly ours are different. I'm sorry you find that unkind, but you asked for our opinions on the ruling and you got them. When a person deliberately changes themselves to the point where neither existing category is a fit for them anymore, they don't get to then demand that those categories change to suit them. It's not everyone else's responsibility to bend around them. And it's not women's responsibility to be comfortable with it.