Sandra Forgues, a transgender woman and former Olympic champion, passionately asserts that the exclusion of trans athletes from high-level women’s events is both abhorrent and unjustifiable. Reflecting on the significance of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, Forgues, who clinched a gold medal in men’s canoeing at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, emphasizes the importance of reason in determining participation eligibility.
According to Forgues, the argument that transgender women possess inherent advantages over cisgender women is fundamentally flawed. Advocating for a balanced approach that respects both the visibility of women in sports and the rights of transgender individuals, she urges against discriminatory practices based on biological or physical differences. She firmly asserts that the exclusion of transgender individuals from women’s categories is not only reprehensible but also undermines the principles of fairness and equality.
Having transitioned and now engaging in women’s handball at a lower level, Forgues draws from personal experience to illustrate the fallacy of assuming an automatic advantage for transgender women in sports. With a smile, she highlights the challenges she faces in contact sports, such as handball, where the physical attributes of cisgender women, including lower centers of gravity and greater strength, pose significant advantages over her. Her candid account underscores the complexity of the issue and emphasizes the need for nuanced consideration.
Forgues empathizes with the frustration of Halba Diouf, a French sprinter whose Olympic aspirations were shattered when World Athletics (WA) implemented a ban on transgender women competing in elite female competitions. Diouf’s hopes of participating in the Paris Olympics were dashed as the governing body cited the protection of the female category as its rationale. Forgues echoes Diouf’s sentiment of feeling marginalized and hounded, emphasizing the profound impact of exclusionary policies on transgender athletes who have struggled, overcome societal barriers, and are now being denied opportunities to participate in the sports they love.
Ultimately, Forgues implores a shift towards reason and fairness, urging that transgender athletes should not be seen as a threat or cheaters. She emphasizes that the mere act of winning should not become a basis for accusations of unfair advantage. Highlighting the importance of prioritizing rational decision-making over reactionary impulses, Forgues advocates for a society where the principles of inclusion, understanding, and empathy guide policies surrounding transgender athletes in high-level sports.
