'Gender' required to enter a race

[NewNameGuy]

New name frequent poster.

I was entering an event and saw the classic "gender" box.

My emails with the organisers:

Me
I'm entering a race with you and have a question for you on the "gender" option.

You ask Male/ female/ non binary

Are you interested in Sex (ie you have sex specific classes?)
Or gender identity?

I want to make sure I enter the right class!

Reply
Thanks for getting in touch. Unfortunately our system at the moment does not have the ability to add any additional options or ask extra questions in relation to sub sectional information regarding gender identity. We provide the category of nonbinary for anyone who does not identify as their own sex specific class or as male or female. We are happy for you to chose the category which you are comfortable with being in for the purpose of entering the race.

The reason we ask about gender is to do with listing results and giving prizes which has always been done in accordance with age and gender in athletics. Something that (perhaps) should be moved away from in the future! We really appreciate you getting in touch with us and hope to see you at one of our races soon!

What do I reply? I'm not sure whether to blow my cover now (save women's sports etc) or keep asking stupid questions and let them tie themselves in knots.

"I'm a man but feel feminine and want a trophy so I'll enter the female class, thanks!"

The reason we ask about gender is to do with listing results and giving prizes which has always been done in accordance with age and gender in athletics. Something that (perhaps) should be moved away from in the future!

"Hi, thanks for your response. Are the age classes also open to anyone based on which age category they feel most comfortable in?"

So they're saying male people can enter the women's race.

Yep, no reason for a 21 year old not to play on the veterans' tennis circuit, surely?

Maybe it's not a bad thing that this is becoming more common. More people will start seeing the problems with the whole self-id situation.

Many people are largely unaware of what's been happening. If I wasn't part of discussion boards I'd likely be the same way.

Smaller events won't have any kind of rule where you must live as the gender you identify with for 2 years prior or any hormone level testing (not that those things make it any fairer for women in sport). It is wide open for piss-taking and abuse. And they will abuse it.

""I'm confused. I thought listing results and giving prizes has always been done in accordance with age and sex in athletics, in order to ensure a fair competition."

Given this:

We are happy for you to chose the category which you are comfortable with being in for the purpose of entering the race.

Why not enter in the correct Veterans Class for your sex? So, if you're 20s, enter, say, the 65+ class. After all, having kids can make you feel ancient.

The reason we ask about gender is to do with listing results and giving prizes which has always been done in accordance with age and gender in athletics.

Well that’s rubbish isn’t it? It’s always been age and sex!

I suspect person believes gender is sex. You should correct them.

'Hi, I also don't identify as being my passport age. Are there any restrictions or can I register according to the age I feel more comfortable with?'

The reason we ask about gender is to do with listing results and giving prizes which has always been done in accordance with age and gender in athletics.

Well that’s rubbish isn’t it? It’s always been age and sex!

I suspect person believes gender is sex. You should correct them.

..............

This, the respondent needs correcting on the difference between sex and gender. Sex has always been required since women were no longer banned from sports on account of physical difference. Gender is something else entirely and not related to biology.

www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts/articles/whatisthedifferencebetweensexandgender/2019-02-21

Hi, I also don't identify as being my passport age. Are there any restrictions or can I register according to the age I feel more comfortable with?'

Don't even ask! Just go ahead and do this - after all, they've already told you you can register in any category you feel comfortable with.

Yea I think they are using gender to mean sex although that doesn't matter as they have said choose the category you feel most comfortable in... What do the mean by this:
Something that (perhaps) should be moved away from in the future! do they mean the categorys of age and gender or the giving of prizes?I'd go with asking a few more questions!

Sounds to me that they are using gender instead of sex too and haven't understood your question.

Which sport and which country? And is the event affiliated?

Oh wow, the fun to be had.
Enter as whatever gender you like >>over a hundred to choose from. Complain when there aren't enough others of the same gender to create a big enough group. Sullenly agree to be female for it but then demand an age group consistent with whatever age group you could easily win in.
Get medals, stick two fingers up at any bigots who complain.
Damn I'm gonna find something my totally slobby body can do and enter all the events like this.

I think I feel like identifying as a 4-year old for the next toddler race..

I think I feel like identifying as a 4-year old for the next toddler race..

And when the whingeing little brats start crying because they say you had your hand on top of the egg keeping it in the spoon, tell them to eff off, demographobes. Just Try Harder!

Surely, some 4-year olds are simply naturally bigger than others, so what are you saying, they shouldn't compete either?? Ageist!

Oh they've understood the question all right. But they think you're a TRA and they're trying to be all right-on cool and wokey, so you won't shout at them.

Self-Identifying as a mixed infant offers many advantages. You get an extra afternoon playtime and can curl up in the quiet corner if it all gets too much for you.

You do get your dinner on a slop tray and not a plate, but no one said it was easy being a transkid.

I would go with the ag3 thing and ask if you can race in the older group

I saw this on a race entry this week too... I wonder if it is the same one. Given that the race software which posts the timings and finishers can only produce a male and female list, where will the Others and Non Binaries go? They really should have their own finishers category as they have created their own data field, otherwise why do it?

Also, if this is the same race... t-shirts only come as Women’s and Men’s - something they make a point of stating which I thought was a bit odd.

Mockers