Martina Navratilova says she has been ‘jettisoned’ by some LGBT groups over her stance on transgender athletes playing in women’s sports but has no plans to back down.
The 18-time Grand Slam champion has become one of the most vocal critics of moves to allow those who have transitioned from male to female to participate in women’s sports, even though this is the gender they identify with. Navratilova is among those who argue that trans athletes have an unfair advantage due to their genetic makeup. However, it is a complex issue with some studies stating the opposite. One study funded by the International Olympic Committee concluded that those who went through gender-affirming hormone therapy could be at a disadvantage.
To make the debate more confusing, there is no set rule on the matter with various governing bodies within sport having their own policies. Earlier this year, the BBC reported that more than 100 ‘elite British sportswomen’ are uncomfortable with trans women competing in female categories. Reigniting the debate over equality and fairness in the sport.
“I’ve been speaking my mind for a long time. I’m not going to change that,” Navratilova told reporters at Wimbledon on Sunday.
“It’s been pretty rough. But I know I’m on the right side of history. I’m right on most people’s opinion about women’s sex-based spaces, and especially sports. They need to stay female.
“But the politics have been kind of crazy about that. It’s become very political when it shouldn’t be when it comes to women’s rights. We seem to put the trans rights ahead of women’s rights, particularly for males that identify as women. Women are asked to be kind and be inclusive, yet by including transgender-identified males in women’s sports, you’re excluding women.”
Navratilova is an instrumental figure in the world of LGBT sports after being one of the first athletes to come out as gay in the early 1980s. Due to attitudes at the time, she lost many sponsors which she estimates to have been worth in the ‘millions.’ Furthermore, three of the Grand Slam titles she won whilst being coached by Renee Richards who is transgender.
However, Navratilova admits she has a mixed relationship with some members of her community due to her views.
“I went to a drag queen show in Miami a couple of months ago. I was wondering how it would be. Everybody just couldn’t have been nicer, including the drag queens, including everybody else there.” She said.
“I felt very loved by the community as a whole, but you wouldn’t think that when you hear from some of those spokespeople at these groups.
“I’m good where I am and I’ll keep fighting the fight.”
There are currently no transgender tennis players with an official WTA ranking. According to the ITF rulebook, transgender athletes are eligible to play in women’s events if they provide ‘satisfactory’ evidence about their transition and the concentration of testosterone in their serum has been less than 5 nmol/L1 continuously for at least 12 months. The person must also show they are willing to maintain their testosterone within this range.
