Transgender athletes' eligibility in sporting events has been a topic of debate since Renee Richards, a transgender tennis player who petitioned her right to compete in the 1976 Women's US Open tennis competition. Richards was forbidden from participating in the women's category even though she had already had reassignment surgery, and lowered her testosterone levels. At six feet two inches tall, many people thought that Richards would always hold an advantage against her female competitors.  After being prohibited from competing in 1976, Richards filed a law suit which eventually was reviews by the New York Supreme Court. The court ruled in favor of transgender rights, and Richards went on to compete in her first women's professional tennis match in 1977. Richards then continued her professional career until 1981; she was a successful player on the court and a role model to the transgender community off the court. Over time society has become much more accepting of transgender people. Being transgender is much more common and accepted now compared to 40 years ago. However, the rights of a transgender athlete remain unclear.  

The issue of eligibility is especially complicated in the high school division of sports. In most states it is at the discursion of the school as to whether or not an athlete is eligible to compete. At my high school there was a transgender boy in the grade below me, the student came out as transgender his freshman year. The news was shocking and spread quickly, making its way around to the majority of students and faculty within a few days. It seemed as if most people were accepting. In August before his sophomore year, the boy decided he wanted to try out for the school football team; he had played soccer basically his entire life and was interested in trying kicking and punting. However, after attending the first practice the coach pulled the boy aside and talked him out of playing. The transgender student was the only person the coach had ever cut from the school's football team. After reading articles and doing research on the topic I have found that often times in all levels of sports transgender athletes are discriminated against.. Rules should be put in place which allow transgender high school student to participate in the gender division of their choice.

Recently the IOC, International Olympic Committee, made a ruling that a transgender athlete who has not had reassignment surgery can compete in the division of their choice as long as they have specific testosterone and estrogen levels, and have declared their gender at least four years prior to the competition. Time magazine recently released an article on the new ruling, explaining all of the rules a transgender athlete needs to follow in order to compete. The main rules being the regulation of testosterone levels and must declare their new gender at least 4 years prior to the event. The article was written to inform people about the new rules The source is credible because it contains direct quotes from the official document and scientific information from doctors discussing the new policy and its validity. The writer did research which makes the article convincing. The article contained no bias, it strictly described the recent changes. I will use this source to support my larger argument to prove that gender reassignment surgery is not necessary for a transgender athlete to compete. The Olympic Games are much more competitive than high school and colligate sports. However, in many cases both colligate and high school sports have stricter rules for transgender athletes. For example, in Texas high schools a transgender student must get a new birth certificate and go through gender reassignment surgery in order to be eligible for the sports team. I will use the Olympic ruling and the International Olympic Committee's reasoning behind the ruling to prove reassignment surgery is not necessary to participate as a transgender athlete.

In another article, also concerning the new Olympic rule, a columnist, Brandon Morse, discusses why the rule should not exist. The article explains how it is unfair to allow a transgender female athlete compete because they are physically stronger regardless of testosterone levels.  Morse explains how the rule puts female athletes at higher risk for injury. The article uses mixed martial arts transgender fighter Fallon Fox as an example of why the ruling is unfair. There are several quotes from multiple athletes who have fought Fox, saying they have never fought a women so strong, and never felt so overpowered.  Morse claims that some athletes are so eager to win that they will pretend to be transgender. The article explains that a male athlete may fake their gender in order to have a better chance at winning. The article was written to explain how the new rule in the Olympics will put athletes born female at a disadvantage, and even put them in danger. The article has a strong bias, and uses examples and quotes from athletes to support the claim. The article is one sided, it does not recognize the opposing side making it seem less reliable. I will use this article in my paper as an opposing argument. Points of this article can be proven false, which will make the opposing argument look weak and my argument stronger and more believable.   

A third article discusses the benefits of allowing transgender youths to compete in the division of their choice. The article explains how youth and high school sports are not as serious compared to collegiate, professional, and Olympic competitions.  The author explains that sports are important to a child's development and provides a healthy way for children to release their emotions. The article then explains some concerns that people have about allowing transgender students to compete in their category of choice. Concerns include people pretending to be transgender in order to get into the opposite genders locker room and to become the best athlete. The article provides evidence that there have been no cases involving complaints about locker room situations and explains that most boys would not pretend to be transgender because it is not the "manly" thing to do. The purpose of this article was to convince people that the mental well being and comfort of a transgender youth far out ways the slight advantage the child may have. The author seems reliable because she included multiple stories which showed how sports made transgender children feel more comfortable and supported. The author has knowledge of the topic, she includes findings from her research, which makes the paper much more relieable. The author also found quotes from professional athletes and doctors that support the claim that competing on the team makes a child feels comfortable and is very beneficial to mental and physical well being. The author also included some opposing arguments, she delivered them completely and effectively, then used personal stories and facts to discredit the opposing argument. The way the author did research and presented the opposing arguments made the paper seem reliable. 

My research question is very arguable because many people have different views on how transgender athletes should be treated. Every source I have seen agrees that there needs to be rules and regulations on transgender athletes' eligibility, however how strict the regulations should be is where there are many different opinions.  The higher the athletic level the more controversial the issue becomes. Complications will arise when trying to decide what is acceptable for high school vs. colligate vs. professional. Each source has a strong point of view and makes compelling points. It is important to review sources of both sides in order to reach a conclusion that supports transgender rights, but is also fair to other non transgender athletes. 
