Current Events and Teachable Moments: Creating Dialog about Transgender and Intersex Athletes

The purpose of this article is to help physical educators and coaches better understand the issues raised in recent news stories about transgender and intersex athletes and to encourage them to engage students and athletes in dialogues about these topics. In conversations with students, it is important for teachers and coaches to separate facts from fiction regarding transgender and intersex athletes and to have the necessary language to discuss gender, gender nonconformity, and gender variations in a nonthreatening and understandable manner. This article explains the differences between sex and gender, gender identity and gender expression, and transgender and intersex. While highlighting medical research, this article addresses common misperceptions about transgender and intersex athletes and demystifies facts that have been sensationalized in the media. The main goal of these discussions is to promote respect and inclusion among students and athletes. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)