Dear Board Members United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA),
USPSA attracts many by combining different elements of athleticism and marksmanship to examine a shooters proficiency. USPSA categories exist to celebrate individual’s unique challenges and strengths. Expectations of fairness and consistency are a major part of what makes USPSA great compared to its peers. We take a great deal of care to ensure fairness at matches of all levels, especially in the issuance of awards for categories including Lady titles.
Transgender athletes are at risk of jeopardizing the fairness and legitimacy of the Lady category. We ask that the board of directors revise the Appendix A2. 3 which defines eligibility for Lady category as “Gender as listed on a government ID” to only allowing issuance of Lady category awards to biological females with XX chromosomes.
USPSA is a physical sport, involving running, bursting, agility, strength, and grip strength. The physiological differences between genders can create an inherent imbalance, with scientific research indicating that individuals undergoing MtF (male-to-female) transition can retain certain physical advantages, such as muscle mass and bone density, despite hormone treatment (see references). Multiple studies show that women have considerably less grip strength when compared to men among many other physical aspects important to USPSA (see references).
In preserving the Lady category, we should work to preserve competitive equity across the board. We respect everyone's rights to identify with their gender of choice. The goal here is not to discriminate against transgender individuals. We must promote the fair participation of women and girls in USPSA. Individuals with XY chromosomes with significant physical advantages over those with XX chromosomes should NEVER be eligible for Lady awards. There should be zero tolerance for this among USPSA Range Masters, board members, and officials.
Please revise Appendix A2, 3, Individual Categories, LADY to reflect biological sex of females at birth with XX chromosomes, irrespective of medical intervention.
Please see the attached IPSC Gender Equality Policy for guidance.
Please include provisions to enforce violations of this policy by match disqualification: unsportsmanlike conduct under 10.6.1.
Thank you for your serious consideration of this matter and for protecting competitive equity among women and young girls in our sport.
References
Alvares LAM, Santos MR, Souza FR, et al. Cardiopulmonary capacity and muscle strength in transgender women on long-term gender-affirming hormone therapy: a cross-sectional study. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2022;56:1292-1299.
Heather AK. Transwoman Elite Athletes: Their Extra Percentage Relative to Female Physiology. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jul 26;19(15):9103. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19159103. PMID: 35897465; PMCID: PMC9331831.
Hilton, EN and Lundberg, TR. Transgender Women in the Female Category of Sport: Perspectives on Testosterone Suppression and Performance Advantage. Dec. 8, 2020.
Leyk D, Gorges W, Ridder D, Wunderlich M, Rüther T, Sievert A, Essfeld D. Hand-grip strength of young men, women and highly trained female athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2007 Mar;99(4):415-21. doi: 10.1007/s00421-006-0351-1. Epub 2006 Dec 22. PMID: 17186303
Taylor, Adam. How Strong Your Grip is Says A Lot About Your Health. Oct. 15, 2020
Zwierko M, Jedziniak W, Popowczak M, Rokita A. Reactive Agility in Competitive Young Volleyball Players: A Gender Comparison of Perceptual-Cognitive and Motor Determinants. J Hum Kinet. 2023 Jan 4;85:87-96. doi: 10.2478/hukin-2022-0112. PMID: 36643830; PMCID: PMC9808806
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
October 27, 2024
October 25, 2024
The USPSA board is ignoring the reality of biological fairness in our sport. We are almost at 500 signatures so blast this link to everyone you know who demands integrity in our competition categories.
Reached 100 supporters
October 25, 2024
130 Comments
I was in the military for over 22 years and in special operations for 19 of those. I have seen time and again the biological differences between men and women at the elite levels of competition. I fully support this effort for Lady Titles!
The women of USPSA should be protected from biological men from competing in the Ladies category. As we have seen recently in other sports (swimming, Olympic boxing, etc..) the damage what a biological man can do to the espirt de corp of women sports. I urge that board of directors do the right thing and make a rule change to protect the women.
I want my daughter to join USPSA competitions. But after seeing a man take prizes from woman, who worked hard, at a local level 2 event I changed my mind. I won’t recommend this sport to any woman until it’s a safe and fair haven for them.
I am a woman and a competitive shooter. By letting biological men identifying as women compete against me and other women is another step towards erasing women altogether. Biology make a difference!
gotta let women compete against other real woman. this rule may be very hard to enforce. not sure how an RO or MD or CRO tests for chromosomes.
Preserve the integrity of women’s sports. There is no room for men pretending to be women just so they can “win!” Stop giving into their delusion!
XX = Female XY = Male Keep It Simple.
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Dear Board Members United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA),
USPSA attracts many by combining different elements of athleticism and marksmanship to examine a shooters proficiency. USPSA categories exist to celebrate individual’s unique challenges and strengths. Expectations of fairness and consistency are a major part of what makes USPSA great compared to its peers. We take a great deal of care to ensure fairness at matches of all levels, especially in the issuance of awards for categories including Lady titles.
Transgender athletes are at risk of jeopardizing the fairness and legitimacy of the Lady category. We ask that the board of directors revise the Appendix A2. 3 which defines eligibility for Lady category as “Gender as listed on a government ID” to only allowing issuance of Lady category awards to biological females with XX chromosomes.
USPSA is a physical sport, involving running, bursting, agility, strength, and grip strength. The physiological differences between genders can create an inherent imbalance, with scientific research indicating that individuals undergoing MtF (male-to-female) transition can retain certain physical advantages, such as muscle mass and bone density, despite hormone treatment (see references). Multiple studies show that women have considerably less grip strength when compared to men among many other physical aspects important to USPSA (see references).
In preserving the Lady category, we should work to preserve competitive equity across the board. We respect everyone's rights to identify with their gender of choice. The goal here is not to discriminate against transgender individuals. We must promote the fair participation of women and girls in USPSA. Individuals with XY chromosomes with significant physical advantages over those with XX chromosomes should NEVER be eligible for Lady awards. There should be zero tolerance for this among USPSA Range Masters, board members, and officials.
Please revise Appendix A2, 3, Individual Categories, LADY to reflect biological sex of females at birth with XX chromosomes, irrespective of medical intervention.
Please see the attached IPSC Gender Equality Policy for guidance.
Please include provisions to enforce violations of this policy by match disqualification: unsportsmanlike conduct under 10.6.1.
Thank you for your serious consideration of this matter and for protecting competitive equity among women and young girls in our sport.
References
Alvares LAM, Santos MR, Souza FR, et al. Cardiopulmonary capacity and muscle strength in transgender women on long-term gender-affirming hormone therapy: a cross-sectional study. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2022;56:1292-1299.
Heather AK. Transwoman Elite Athletes: Their Extra Percentage Relative to Female Physiology. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jul 26;19(15):9103. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19159103. PMID: 35897465; PMCID: PMC9331831.
Hilton, EN and Lundberg, TR. Transgender Women in the Female Category of Sport: Perspectives on Testosterone Suppression and Performance Advantage. Dec. 8, 2020.
Leyk D, Gorges W, Ridder D, Wunderlich M, Rüther T, Sievert A, Essfeld D. Hand-grip strength of young men, women and highly trained female athletes. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2007 Mar;99(4):415-21. doi: 10.1007/s00421-006-0351-1. Epub 2006 Dec 22. PMID: 17186303
Taylor, Adam. How Strong Your Grip is Says A Lot About Your Health. Oct. 15, 2020
Zwierko M, Jedziniak W, Popowczak M, Rokita A. Reactive Agility in Competitive Young Volleyball Players: A Gender Comparison of Perceptual-Cognitive and Motor Determinants. J Hum Kinet. 2023 Jan 4;85:87-96. doi: 10.2478/hukin-2022-0112. PMID: 36643830; PMCID: PMC9808806
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
October 27, 2024
October 25, 2024
The USPSA board is ignoring the reality of biological fairness in our sport. We are almost at 500 signatures so blast this link to everyone you know who demands integrity in our competition categories.
Reached 100 supporters
October 25, 2024
130 Comments
Let’s stick to the science of biology here, guys. If the board chooses to ignore this petition and others, I will not renew my membership nor shoot in anymore Uspsa events.
I was in the military for over 22 years and in special operations for 19 of those. I have seen time and again the biological differences between men and women at the elite levels of competition. I fully support this effort for Lady Titles!
The women of USPSA should be protected from biological men from competing in the Ladies category. As we have seen recently in other sports (swimming, Olympic boxing, etc..) the damage what a biological man can do to the espirt de corp of women sports. I urge that board of directors do the right thing and make a rule change to protect the women.
I want my daughter to join USPSA competitions. But after seeing a man take prizes from woman, who worked hard, at a local level 2 event I changed my mind. I won’t recommend this sport to any woman until it’s a safe and fair haven for them.
I am a woman and a competitive shooter. By letting biological men identifying as women compete against me and other women is another step towards erasing women altogether. Biology make a difference!
gotta let women compete against other real woman. this rule may be very hard to enforce. not sure how an RO or MD or CRO tests for chromosomes.
Preserve the integrity of women’s sports. There is no room for men pretending to be women just so they can “win!” Stop giving into their delusion!
XX = Female XY = Male Keep It Simple.
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Let’s stick to the science of biology here, guys. If the board chooses to ignore this petition and others, I will not renew my membership nor shoot in anymore Uspsa events.