In recent years, there has been a great deal of discussion and debate about the participation of transgender people in sports. Alicia Rowley recently won the Women’s National Championships, and Martina Navratilova didn’t like that one bit. She criticized the USTA for its stance on transgender athletes. The Independent Council On Women’s Sports (ICONS) revealed on Instagram that Rowley won the Grass Court National Championship of 55 and above and the National Indoor Singles and Doubles Championship.
🎾 Male tennis player, Alicia Rowley is the latest Women’s National Tennis Champion and winner of the coveted “golden ball”
Rowley has recently won the women’s 55+:
🥇Grass Court National Championships
🥇National Indoor Singles and Doubleshttps://t.co/CAncjeej8D pic.twitter.com/arYxPeFr8r— ICONS (@icons_women) August 5, 2023
In response to the revelation, ICONS co-founder Kim Shasby Jones tagged Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova on Twitter and demanded that the USTA modify its position on transgender athletes.
Hey @USTA @WTA @Martina @ChrissieEvert
Women’s tennis is turning into a laughing stock because of these terrible policies prioritizing the mental health and identity of men over women who have discovered a love of tennis.
The women are calling us and begging for help to be… https://t.co/rhdCrrZrgY— Kim Shasby Jones (@KimJonesICONS) August 6, 2023
The USTA’s Transgender Inclusion Policy states that trans athletes should be allowed to participate in sports. And that they should not be excluded from them. It states, ‘It is necessary to ensure, as far as possible, that transgender athletes are not excluded from the opportunity to participate in sports competitions.’
Come on @USTA– women’s tennis is not for failed male athletes- whatever age. This is not right and it is not fair. Would this be allowed at the US Open this month? Just with self ID? I don’t think so… https://t.co/UkBzhaL6b6
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) August 6, 2023
Its policy states that “Those who transition from male to female are eligible to compete in the female category under the following conditions: The athlete has declared that her gender identity is female. The declaration cannot be changed, for sporting purposes, for a minimum of four years.” This policy has been receiving backlash as the players who are biologically male have certain physical advantages over females.
How does the stance of Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova differ?
While Martina showed her disappointment, Billie stepped up to defend the policy. Both of the tennis players have dominated the sport in their individual respective times. Both are advocates of the equality of women’s professional tennis in relation to that of men’s. Yet both are now rivaling on the stance regarding the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Both lesbians, King and Navratilova took on males in clashes that were significant for women’s tennis. King defeated Wimbledon champion Bobby Riggs in an exhibition match in 1973. Navratilova met Jimmy Connors in 1992, with changed rules working in the American tennis player’s favor and a win.
Athlete Ally is an organization that encourages the inclusion of transgender athletes. Billie Jean King, now 79 years old, is an active participant in the organization. On several occasions, she has expressed her contentment with policies that are trans-inclusive. “Trans youth deserve to play and thrive,” she stated.
“I couldn’t disagree more, inclusion at the cost of exclusion is not inclusion,” responded Navratilova. Martina has actively made it clear how she is against it. She maintains that transgender people are not prohibited from participating altogether. However, they must do so in the biological category rather than the self-identification category.