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In early October, DN wrote about a new report from RFSL, the Swedish Association for the Rights of Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex people.
RFSL had mapped the experiences of 110 trans people with Swedish sports. And the pattern that emerged was clear: transgender people feel excluded from sports. Regulations and the “casual gender division” put an end to it.
In your report RFSL Swedish Sports recommended that children up to 18 years of age be able to choose a team or group themselves, regardless of their legal gender. The discussion then was mainly about children and youth in grassroots sports, as international regulations, medical rules and anti-doping rules make the situation of trans people in elite sports more complex.
However, in parallel with the work that is also being carried out within the Swedish Sports Confederation, the Swedish Gymnastics Association has taken the issue further.
Recently, the Federal Board decided that “requests to compete in a different kind of competition than the legal genre must be fulfilled” at the association, regional and national level, up to and including the JSM level. The decision, which the Swedish Gymnastics Association announced on Monday, applies not only to grassroots sports, but also to more elite young gymnasts.
– What we can influence is the competitions at home, and then it depends on the junior-SM level inclusive, says Åsa Ekdahl, medical coordinator and head of research on the subject at the Swedish Gymnastics Association.
– A senior-SM is a competition of international competitions, so we have to comply with international standards.
Photo: Carl Sandin / Bildbyrån
The JSM level includes According to the general secretary of the association, Pelle Malmborg, gymnasts from 13 to 18 years old, “a little depending on the discipline.”
– When assets age, there are other pieces that we have to relate to. But we have chosen to believe that that boundary is between junior and senior, he says.
How do you think this will be received?
– It is clear that in some cases this can be questioned, but I imagine that the people who make these life decisions face many prejudices and challenges as it is. So that we can make life a little easier for them, and make sure everyone is welcome, that’s the least we can do.
Now it’s new regulations are implemented in business.
– It is one thing to produce a document, then we will also put it on the market, says Pelle Malmborg.
In particular, the decision means that, for example, a person who is legally a boy can compete with and against girls, for example, in team gymnastics or in the tools included in women’s artistic gymnastics, when they will be crowned Swedish junior champion.
How fair will it be?
– It depends on the disciplines you apply, says Åsa Ekdahl.
– If it is resistance and strength that is a favor, it could have some consequence in some discipline. If flexibility and mobility are important, it could have other consequences. Sure, you could experience some injustice somewhere, but on the other hand, it could be the other way around.
– So we haven’t seen this as a problem. Regardless, we must be able to get to know the individual and make them feel comfortable.
Photo: Edith Geuppert / DPA
In your position The Swedish Gymnastics Association also recommends to its associations, among other things, training on LGBTQ issues, using preferred names and pronouns in its members and supporting people who wish to compete in another kind of competition.
– I have not seen any other union that has taken such an open position, says Åsa Ekdahl.
Historically, questions to the union about transinclusion have been few, he says.
– But we think there is a dark figure. That is why we must take this issue seriously.
Read more:
RFSL: “Do not divide children into groups of boys and girls unnecessarily”
