I find this an interesting conversation because as much as one can think “so
what – it doesn’t affect me” unless you have a transgender family member of
friend, one can actually find themselves wrapped up in a “controversy” anyhow.
I served as the Chair of the Board of Curl BC for a number of years and ended
up learning new words such as “gonadectomy” and doing research into
international rules and regulations regarding gender in sport without starting
with any knowledge on the topic whatsoever.
We had received an application from a woman to participate in the Senior
Women’s Curling Playdowns. What made the application unusual was that three
years previously, this “she” had competed in Senior Men’s Curling Playdowns as
a “he”. During the intervening time period, “he” had gone through the process
that Willow has described in fully living as a “she”, etc. with hormone
treatments and eventually surgery.
As regional and provincial playdowns at that time could go to a national
championship, I thought I could pass the buck to the Canadian Curling
Association (now Curling Canada) but with no luck as they had no precedent or
policy regarding similar situations. As the national championship could lead
to a World Championship, we checked with the World Curling Federation on
eligibility at that level (as our one relevant rule stated that in order to
compete at a lower level, one must be eligible to compete at the next level).
The WCF also had no policies or precedent at that time but suggested that they
were awaiting a verdict and a policy from the International Olympic Committee
as to eligibility. The IOC was just in the process of analyzing this part of
“gender in sport” and had no final policy.
I did meet with the lady in question and she produced a BC driver’s license
that said she was female as well as a Canadian Passport that said she was
female. Given that the provincial government and federal government had
effectively “ruled” on the issue of gender, it became a “no brainer” for me to
also approve the application.
Perhaps what amazed me most about this circumstance had nothing to do directly
with the applicant but with the reaction of some others in the curling
community as obviously many had known this woman as both a “he” and a “she” and
virtually every senior competitive curler in the province was aware of the
“issue”. The vast majority were very supportive and actually expressed
sympathy for the challenges this woman must have faced making a decision at
this stage in life in her mid 50s to transition. However, a small minority
were vociferous and downright vicious in the emails I received for allowing
such a travesty against God and the curling community. It is amazing how much
you learn about some old friend’s opinions when you become involved in
circumstances such as these.
Thought you might enjoy this story....
YITBOS
Jim
