Cisgender Lifters Stand as Allies with Transgender Competitors

We stand in solidarity with all transgender powerlifting athletes who deserve full access to the sport they love. The current International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) and USA Powerlifting (USAPL) policies prohibiting all female transgender powerlifters and male transgender athletes using testosterone from competition are not only based on a flawed understanding of competitive advantage, but are also discriminatory and in violation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Consensus on Sex Reassignment and Hyperandrogenism, which the IPF has adopted, and Principle 6 of the Olympic Charter, which prohibits any form of discrimination in sport. Under the IOC Consensus, female transgender athletes who meet the specified criteria are eligible to compete, yet recently lifter was told that any and all female transgender athletes are ineligible.

We heard from many cisgender female powerlifters who support transgender athletes' right to compete. See what they had to say:

Vanessa Crouch

"I am a cis queer USAPL Woman Powerlifter, I am against the USAPL's new policy on transgender participation, or lack thereof, in the sport that I love. Everyone deserves a spot on the platform, if not you can't call yourself inclusive. I've thought about cancelling my membership and withdrawing from my next two USAPL meets, but I love competing with the USAPL and I hope that we turn up the pressure on them enough to change this decision."

Allie Feras

"As a lifter, referee, and meet director, I stand with trans lifters. I have competed with and against trans women in roller derby, and I would be proud to share the platform with ALL women in a truly inclusive powerlifting community. As a cisgender woman, I reject the USAPL's attempt to police womanhood and exclude trans women in my name. I urge the Executive Committee to reverse its decision and adopt the IOC Guidelines, which are more in line with the current scientific consensus."

Susan Chambers

"I've competed in the USAPL since 2015. However, I recently learned that USAPL has decided to ban trans athletes from the platform for "fairness". As a cis woman and a strength athlete, they do not speak for me. I will joyfully share the platform with trans women, trans men, genderqueer, enby and truly any lifter who pursues this sport. There is enough room on the platform for everyone who wants to be there."

Emily Abarquez

"As a competitor and certified club coach, I wholeheartedly support the inclusion of transgender athletes in the USAPL - I'd be honored to share the platform with them.The IPF, the USAPL's parent organization, adopted the IOC's rules regarding trans athletes last year. I believe that, as a member organization of the IPF, the USAPL should adhere to the IOC guidelines which are based on the recommendations of top experts and the IOC Medical & Scientific Commission.Not too long ago, the USAPL was the first to break away from the USPF because of its desire for effective drug testing. Now, the USAPL is once again positioned to lead other American powerlifting federations in the pursuit of fairness - this time, in its inclusion or exclusion of transgender athletes.My hope is that the USAPL will choose to stand for inclusion, acknowledging that to do so is fair for all competitors when athletes comply with the IOC guidelines."

Ali Lawson

"Powerlifting has taught me a lot of things: building strength takes time, anyone who puts in the time can get stronger, and anyone who gets stronger should celebrate that achievement. As a woman, competing with other women is a celebration of that achievement, and excluding a group of women because they identify differently from me would inherently cheapen that achievement. There was a time when women (like me) were excluded from social and athletic spaces just for being women. There are still spaces today where queer women (like me) are excluded from social and athletic spaces just for being queer. I know what that feels like, and I refuse to participate in a system that excludes women based on their identities. I used to be proud to call the USAPL my federation, but with this stance on excluding transgender athletes, I no intention of renewing my membership or competing in the USAPL again.Many of us come to powerlifting because strength is an equalizer. I as a white queer woman can lift alongside a Muslim athlete in a hijab, a black athlete with natural hair, or an athlete in recovery, and we can all give each other hell on the platform. I, as a cis-gender female athlete, want transwomen to be included in the diversity that makes powerlifting such a thrilling, rewarding sport. When we get out there, all that matters is that we put in the work, we love the sport, and we support each other. When you ban a group of women from participating in our sport, you fail to support us, and you fail to do your job as an athletic federation. You're not protecting the sanctity of the sport, you're defiling it."

Jenna Damron

"I’m a queer, cis woman who lifts in the USAPL and I stand with trans athletes. I’m more than willing to share the platform with trans women."

Anna Claire Loper

"I continue to powerlift and would have previously gone back to USAPL if I chose to compete again. However, because of their position on trans folks competing, I will not be competing with USAPL until they change their policy to at least align with the IOC Guidelines. Powerlifting is about empowering people in all bodies. I want the platform to reflect this fact. I want to share it with trans folks and non-binary folks."

Stand with them. Stand with us. Stand with trans lifters. Learn more and sign the pledge.