Coleman's Argument

Should intersex women be able to compete in women's sports?

Yes, but if they are 46XY they must lower their testosterone to 5 nmol/L .

• This is the IAAF/CAS/IOC position
• Argument made by Doriane Lambelet Coleman

1. Women’s sports should be separate from men’s sports for the sake of fairness and equal opportunity for women (among other reasons).
2. The separation should be based on what gives men an advantage-- gonadal sex, not gender or gender identity
3. 46XY intersex women (like Caster Semenya) have male gonadal sex.
4. They can change this by suppressing their testosterone to below 5 nmol/L.
5. Requiring them to do so advances fairness and equal opportunity and has no moral costs that are more important. THEREFORE
6. 46XY intersex women should be able to compete in women’s sports but only if they lower their testosterone to 5 nmol/L.

No, period.

• reject the presupposition of 3, that 46XY intersex women are women--maintain they are simply men
• reject 4--maintain it's too late to change--testosterone has shaped their bodies throughout life

Yes, unconditionally.

• reject #5 --moral costs are invasion of privacy, social disruption, plus collateral damage (impact on all elite female athletes who fear being tested)
• female sports heroes like Caster are inspiring, whatever their gonads
• Could reject other premises, or even all of them (see McKinnon).

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• Next time: We will look at Rachel McKinnon's arguments
• Who is Rachel McKinnon?
• Bicycling article
• Hostility and misgendering--National Review
• UK Interview after winning world champion in her track cycling event again this month
• She gives a lecture on fairness and inclusion (we will watch excerpts next time)