Gender Inclusion Caucus

1. • One in 300 people in Canada aged 15 and older are transgender or non-binary (0.33%), therefore individuals who live in Alberta and are involved in sports make up a very small portion of this population (Stats Canada)

1. • Study from the States showed that while 68% of high school seniors participated in sports, only 12% of transgender girls participated (Human Rights Campaign Foundation, 2018)  

1. • There has been no conclusive research suggesting that transgender athletes have an athletic advantage at any stage of their transition (Jones et al., 2017; Oberlin 2023)

1. • Injuries are often caused by a difference in body mass. Having alternative options such as weight classes would better account for differences in body mass in both cis and transgender players. (Oberlin 2023) 

1. • Transgender individuals are transitioning to better fit their gender identity, not to gain unfair sporting advantages (San Francisco Government)

1. • There are no legitimate cases of a cis man transitioning solely to have an advantage in women’s sports.  

1. • Use of exogenous hormones (such as steroids) and natural fluctuations in hormone profiles are present in cisgender athletes as well (Oberlin 2023) 

1. • It is nearly impossible to make comparisons among individuals when they are classified into superimposed categories. 

1. • These binaries do not account for differences seen across cisgender individuals.

1. • Concept that is more relevant to reproduction. Irrelevant to the identification of individuals. The sex binary as understood in biology is a feature of reproductive organs, not individuals. It is not related to how individuals (including people and other organisms) are to be identified. (Griffiths & Spencer 2025)

Alberta Bill of Rights, RSA 2000, c A-14. https://kings-printer.alberta.ca/1266.cfm?page=A14.cfm&leg_type=Acts&isbncln=9780779850273  

Bill C-16, An Act to Amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code, 1^st Session, 42^nd Parliament, 2017. https://www.parl.ca/Content/Bills/421/Government/C-16/C-16_4/C-16_4.PDF 

Canadian Women in Sport. (2025). Trans inclusion in sport. https://womenandsport.ca/en-ca/resource/trans-inclusion-in-sport  

Demers, G., Pavlenko, F., St-Pierre, L., Rouillier, A-M. (2024). Inclusion des jeunes trans et non-binaires dans le sport: Identification des barrières et solutions potentielles. Rapport de recherche exploratoire. Laboratoire pour la progression des femmes dans les sports au Québec. https://lab-profems.fse.ulaval.ca/app/uploads/2024/04/VF_Inclusion-des-jeunes-trans-et-non-binaires-dans-le-sport.pdf  

E-Alliance. (2022). Transgender women athletes and elite sport: A scientific review. Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. https://cces.ca/transgender-women-athletes-and-elite-sport-scientific-review  

Egale Canada. (2024). Egale explains: Trans Women in Sport. https://egale.ca/awareness/egale-explains-trans-women-sport/  

Government of Alberta. (2025, June 10). Fairness and safety in sport model policy. https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/ts-fairness-and-safety-in-sport-model-policy.pdf  

Johnson, A., Miranda, L., & Lee, M. (2018). Play to win: Improving the lives of LGBTQ youth in sports. Human Rights Campaign Foundation. https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/PlayToWin-FINAL.pdf?_ga=2.28099006.300407420.1582836585-1986322191.1582510625 

Jones, B. A., Arcelus J., Bouman, W. P., & Haycraft, E. (2017). Sport and transgender people: A systematic review of the literature relating to sport participation and competitive sport policies. Sports Medicine, 47(4): 701-716. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0621-y  

Kraft, E., Culver, D. M., Din, C., & Cayer, I. (2021). Increasing gender equity in sport organizations: assessing the impacts of a social learning initiative. Sport in Society, 25(10), 2009–2023. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2021.1904900 

Laboratoire de recherche pour la progression des femmes+ dans les sports au Québec. (2025). La place des filles et des femmes dans le sport. https://lab-profems.fse.ulaval.ca/boite-a-outils/  

Norris, M. (2025, February 7). Myths about transgender athletes. American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians Blog. https://www.acofp.org/news-and-publications/blogs/acofp-voice/2025/02/07/myths-about-transgender-athletes 

Oberlin D. J. (2023). Sex differences and athletic performance: Where do trans individuals fit into sports and athletics based on current research? Frontiers in sports and active living, 5, 1224476. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.1224476 

Office of Transgender Initiatives. (n.d.). Trans Women in Sports: Facts Over Fear. City and County of San Francisco. Retrieved September 16, 2025 from https://www.sf.gov/trans-women-in-sports-facts-over-fear  

Sharrow, E. A. (2021). Sports, transgender rights and the bodily politics of cisgender supremacy. Laws, 10(3), 63. https://doi.org/10.3390/laws10030063  

Statistics Canada. (2021). One in 300 people in Canada aged 15 and older are transgender or non-binary [Infographic]. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220427/g-b001-eng.htm  

Sport & Rights Alliance. (2024, October 8). Trans, Gender Diverse and Intersex Inclusion in Sports is a Human Right. https://sportandrightsalliance.org/trans-gender-diverse-and-intersex-inclusion-in-sports-is-a-human-right/  

Women and Gender Equality Canada. (2024, March 31). Government of Canada highlights International Transgender Day of Visibility. Government of Canada. Retrieved September 11, 2025 from https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2024/03/government-of-canada-highlights-international-transgender-day-of-visibility.html  

YWCA Canada. (2024, March 25). YWCA Canada responds to anti-trans rhetoric: Trans women are women and anti-trans women rhetoric is anti-woman. Retrieved September 11, 2025 from https://ywcacanada.ca/news/ywca-canada-responds-to-anti-trans-rhetoric-trans-women-are-women-and-anti-trans-women-rhetoric-is-anti-woman/