Transgender Women in Sports vs. Biological Females Only. Find the Middle Ground.

The debate surrounding transgender women in women’s sports is complex, passionate, and deeply rooted in values of fairness and inclusion. Transgender athletes emphasize identity and equal opportunity, often citing hormone therapy as a leveling factor. Supporters of biological sex-based divisions highlight performance differences and seek to protect opportunities for cisgender women. A growing middle-ground perspective suggests pragmatic, sport-specific solutions—combining open categories, scientific criteria, and the preservation of women’s divisions in some instances. Ultimately, the path forward will require honest dialogue, scientific rigor, and empathy to build policies that honor all athletes while preserving the integrity of sport.

The BUILD Framework for Discussing Transgender Athletes in Women’s Sports

The ongoing debate around transgender women’s participation in women’s sports reflects profound questions about fairness, inclusion, identity, and competitive integrity. On one side, transgender women and supporters emphasize equal opportunity and inclusivity, noting the mitigating effects of hormone therapy. On the other, defenders of sex-based categories highlight biological advantages and the need to preserve fair opportunities for cisgender women. Bridging these perspectives requires openness, understanding, and practical solutions that honor both sides of this complex issue. The BUILD Framework offers a constructive roadmap for dialogue and decision-making.

B – Be Open

Openness is essential when addressing such a polarizing issue. Each side holds deeply personal and often emotionally charged views—one rooted in the right to affirm gender identity and compete equally, the other grounded in protecting fairness and preserving women’s sports categories. Conversations must begin without dismissiveness or assumptions, fostering respectful dialogue that validates the importance of both inclusion and fairness. Only through openness can stakeholders create space for innovative and balanced solutions.

U – Understand

Truly progressing this discussion requires a deep understanding of what drives both perspectives. For transgender athletes and advocates, sports are more than competition—they are spaces where identity, community, and belonging take shape. Exclusion from participating in alignment with gender identity is viewed as dehumanizing and detrimental to mental health and self-worth. Hormone therapy, in their view, provides a means to mitigate advantages and enable fair competition. On the other side, defenders of sex-based categories feel a responsibility to protect hard-won opportunities for cisgender women, particularly given biological differences that can significantly influence performance outcomes even after hormone therapy. These supporters worry about losing fairness and the erosion of pathways such as scholarships, titles, and recognition that women have fought to secure. Understanding these concerns on both sides creates the foundation for empathy and the potential for compromise.

I – Investigate

Bridging this gap requires creative and context-specific solutions that do not rely on blanket approaches. Instead of adopting universal rules, sports governing bodies can investigate policies that reflect the unique demands of different sports. Eligibility criteria can be crafted based on scientific research that considers factors like strength, endurance, and performance variations by sport. Open or mixed-gender categories could offer inclusive pathways for transgender athletes while ensuring that cisgender female categories remain protected where biological advantages are significant. Furthermore, safeguarding women’s categories for specific levels of competition, such as elite or professional tiers, while offering inclusive models in recreational or local contexts could allow for flexibility and fairness to coexist. Thoughtful investigation into these and other models enables a more informed and adaptive policy landscape.

L – Leverage Opportunities

Despite the differences, there are shared values and overlapping interests that can be harnessed to create constructive solutions. Everyone involved—athletes, coaches, governing bodies, and advocates—wants sports to be inclusive, fair, and enjoyable. There is also a universal desire for clear, transparent rules that reduce confusion, controversy, and unpredictability for athletes. By focusing on these commonalities, decision-makers can develop frameworks that ensure competition remains meaningful while offering participation options for all identities. Open dialogue can reveal areas where both sides agree, such as the need for transparency, the importance of scientific input, and the shared goal of fostering environments that do not alienate or exclude. Leveraging this alignment allows for policies that are pragmatic and widely supported.

D – Drive Forward

To move forward, organizations and stakeholders need to adopt actionable steps rooted in balance and empathy. Sport governing bodies should convene diverse task forces—representing athletes, scientists, legal experts, and advocates—to define sport-specific eligibility criteria that reflect performance realities and inclusion goals. Pilot programs, such as introducing open categories or trial eligibility thresholds, can offer valuable insights before widespread implementation. Education and communication will be key, helping the public and athletes understand the rationale behind policies and reducing polarization. Regular reviews of policies should be built in to ensure adaptability as scientific knowledge, social norms, and athletic contexts evolve. Ultimately, by taking incremental yet decisive steps, it is possible to chart a path that respects both fairness and inclusion while reducing tension and creating a future where all athletes feel respected and heard.

The debate over transgender women in women’s sports reflects deeply held values on both sides: the need for fairness and the right to inclusion. While the discussion is often polarized, pathways exist to thoughtfully balance competitive integrity with respect for gender identity. By fostering openness, understanding motivations, investigating nuanced solutions, leveraging common ground, and driving forward with clear actions, stakeholders can create policies that honor both equity and inclusion. True progress will come not from choosing sides, but from building bridges.