Making space : Transgender athletes

Transgender athletes largely have competed in the shadows until recently. Recently, however, transgender athletes have garnered more attention, if not acceptance (Love, Seung-Yup, & DeSensi, 2009). I address the history of trans athletes’ participation in sports, research on transgender athletes’ experiences in sport and physical activity and in media representations of transgender athletes, and I highlight the controversies and challenges that have emerged when trans athletes are discussed (Cohen & Semerjian, 2006; Semerjian & Cohen, 2006; Sykes, 2006). Policy recommendations need to be informed by our evolving social climate and be developed with input from transgender athletes and stakeholders who understand their unique experiences.