The IOC continues to study this area extensively to create and adapt policies that promote fair competition and preserve human dignity. These science-backed policies take into account that athleticism is shaped by more than hormones or chromosomes. Coaching, training, nutrition, and access to resources all play critical roles. And in this regard, many trans athletes […]
The IOC continues to study this area extensively to create and adapt policies that promote fair competition and preserve human dignity. These science-backed policies take into account that athleticism is shaped by more than hormones or chromosomes. Coaching, training, nutrition, and access to resources all play critical roles. And in this regard, many trans athletes may actually face an inherent disadvantage due to discrimination and bias.
Dr. Syd Young (they/them) is a licensed physical therapist and the founder of OutWellness, an Austin-based health and wellness center serving the LGBTQ+ community.
Sports are meant to bring people together, to celebrate dedication, discipline, and teamwork. They teach us how to set goals, overcome challenges, and support one another. Excluding transgender athletes from these experiences goes against the very values that sports are supposed to promote.
HB 1123 doesn’t address a widespread issue. It creates one. By requiring invasive testing and government oversight of children’s bodies, it strips young people – trans or not – of dignity and autonomy. It sends a message that some students must prove their identity to be allowed to participate. That isn’t fair or safe – that’s targeted exclusion.
One of the most persistent myths used to promote anti–trans athlete legislation is that transgender females have an inherent advantage over their cisgender peers. However, research shows that just one year of gender-affirming hormone therapy results in significant reductions in muscle mass, strength, and hemoglobin levels, aligning trans women with cisgender women. In fact, a study by the International Olympic Committee found transgender women may even underperform in activities related to lower-body strength and lung capacity.
While 23 states have passed laws restricting transgender athletes in interscholastic or intercollegiate sports, Texas’ approach is uniquely invasive and punitive. Currently in consideration in the Texas Legislature, House Bill 1123 goes beyond banning transgender students from participating in sports, requiring children to undergo invasive physical examinations and genetic testing to prove their biological sex.
Trans youth are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for what every kid deserves: the chance to be seen, supported, and included. Denying them access to sports doesn’t level the playing field, it removes them from it altogether. If lawmakers are genuinely concerned about the well-being of Texas students, they should work to increase access to mental health services, improve education, and support school programs that build community. Targeting trans kids with surveillance and stigma helps no one and harms many.
This is not about fairness or protecting the integrity of interscholastic sports competition. It’s an unprecedented invasion of privacy aimed directly at kids who are already more likely to experience bullying, depression, and self-harm.
As a licensed physical therapist and founder of a queer-centered wellness space in Austin, I’ve seen the consequences of this rhetoric firsthand. Every day, I work with people navigating gender, identity, and health. At OutWellness, we host weekly workouts specifically for trans masc and trans femme individuals. I’ve seen how movement – especially in group or team settings – can build confidence, reduce anxiety, and help people heal. These sessions aren’t just about fitness; they’re about belonging.
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Case in point: the 2024 Paris Olympics, where two female boxers faced public scrutiny after their gold-garnering performances. Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan faced backlash coated in transphobia and misinformation expounded by the Russian-led International Boxing Association. The IBA claimed that the two athletes failed genetic testing. However, after its own investigation, the IOC determined the reports to be false and has since expelled the IBA from the Olympic movement.
For transgender youth, who are two to three times more likely to suffer from depression than their peers, the benefits of participating in sports and other group fitness activities can be lifesaving. But not if lawmakers take it away.
But unfortunately, the damage was already done. Just last November, Lin Yu-ting backed out of an international competition in the UK to “avoid further harm” from persistent, falsified claims. This is what happens when we build systems that punish people for being too powerful, too different, or too visible.
