From Iceland – No expert consulted in the decision of the Icelandic Swimming Association
The Icelandic Swimming Association (SSÍ) supported rules prohibiting trans women from competing in the women’s category at the World Championships without consulting experts. Frettablaðið.
SSÍ is criticized for this decision, especially because no experts were consulted before the decision was made and the decision was not based on the best information.
“SSÍ made this decision, which concerns trans people in Iceland, without consultation with the organization Trans Ísland or other trans people in Iceland. It was a mistake, “says the chairman of Trans Ísland, Viima Lampinen.
In a joint statement by Trans Ísland and other organizations, SSÍ is encouraged to withdraw its vote. If it is not possible to withdraw the vote, SSÍ’s joint statement calls for a statement that they cannot stand with the vote and apologize to trans people in Iceland. The statement also called on all sports associations to speak out against the exclusion of transgender people.
“There are no definitive definitions of what exactly male or female is, the variability is so great that science can not give a complete answer. But according to Western beliefs, there are only two categories, women and men, and in sports this definition is very important, “says Viima. “As a result, all kinds of discussions about gender and gender in sports are easily created, not based on biology but on the idea of dividing people into two categories. However, this division is not justified when looking at biology further. “
Viima believes that the International Swimming Federation received support for this decision because it only sought comments from supporters and did not seek input from LGBTQ + organizations.
“I think the International Swimming Federation has gone too far and I don’t think these people fully understand what they were doing,” Viima said. “I am also very sorry that we who have expertise in the matter were not consulted before this decision was made.
Viima believes that these decisions are directly related to movements that limit the rights of women and minorities.
“Because it is not possible to set rules for women and restrict their rights and power, it is often a target for all kinds of minorities, especially trans women, who become easy targets,” says Viima. “When attitudes are generally against transgender people, it does not take much to convince people of such a ban, even though it goes against science. Uninformed and misleading people who are trying to do the right thing can easily make mistakes and that is what I believe has happened here. “
Trans women are banned from the International Swimming Federation, but trans men are not banned.
All women, including trans women, should be allowed to compete in the women’s category. I would go so far as to say that such a competition does little for sports and that people who create such a competition do not understand what performance sports are all about. “
“On the one hand it is about this desire to control women’s bodies and on the other hand the transphobic thinking that trans women are not women, but men in dresses. This thought seems difficult to eliminate from society, “says Viima. “The bottom line is that trans women are inhuman, they are denied rights and their lives are threatened because they are subjected to a great deal of physical and mental violence, exclusion and discrimination.
Viima says that the idea that trans women have an advantage simply because they were born with a male body is inaccurate. They also mention that other physical characteristics such as height, leg size and leg length are not used to prohibit athletes from competing, so why should transgender women’s symptoms be treated differently.
The International Swimming Federation has put forward the idea of creating an open competition for trans competitors. Viima considers this unnecessary and unfair.
“I think this open party belittles high-achieving athletes. It is unexciting to register in a category where there will never be enough participants to create a real competition, in addition to which there is no respect, tradition or history attached to the category and they never get show time on television, “says Viima. “So I just think it’s outrageous and unnecessary. All women, including trans women, should be allowed to compete in the women’s category. I would go so far as to say that such a competition does little for sports and that people who create such a competition do not understand what performance sports are all about. “
Viima says that the fear of trans women in sports eventually reduces sports to physical exertion based solely on body numbers. They compare it to giving the heaviest sumo wrestler the gold or the highest average to the winning basketball team.
“I want to see trans people thrive and succeed in sports and if they can only participate with a few exceptions, the competition is not equal, but it is the justification used for these special rules,” says Viima.
SSÍ chairman, Björn Sigurðsson, said in an interview that criticism and accusations of prejudice are hurtful.
“SSÍ is just meeting the consequences of its actions,” says Viima. “There were many organizations that condemned this decision and if there is no prejudice along the way, we need to see it. They can invite us to discuss issues and do not have to make themselves a victim. “