Attitudes of Intercollegiate Athletes toward Transgender Individuals and Transgender Athletic Participation.

Debate around the participation of transgender athletes in competitive sport has been increasing recently. These debates, and the discourse surrounding transgender athletes, have had wide ranging consequences, including changes to gender participation policies by sport governing bodies. While policy changes are being made, little data exists around the attitudes of athletes on the participation of transgender persons. This study explores the attitudes of intercollegiate student-athletes on transgender individuals and transgender collegiate athletic participation, using a sample of three collegiate athletic programs. Findings suggest that attitudes towards transgender persons and political ideology are significant factors in the acceptance of transgender athletic participation, particularly for trans women, while religiosity contributes to overall attitudes of transgender persons outside of sport, but not to trans athletic participation specifically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]