Trans Marathon Runner Advocates for Nonbinary Divisions in All Sports

Cal Calamia is making history as they prepare to compete in the London Marathon, representing trans athletes worldwide. This weekend, they will be the first trans person to participate in the nonbinary category of the prestigious World Marathon Majors, a series that includes marathons in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York. Athletes completing all six races are awarded the coveted 'Six Star Medal.'

As an influential LGBTQ athlete in distance running, Calamia — who uses they/he pronouns — is pushing for greater inclusion in sports, advocating for the creation of nonbinary divisions across all sporting disciplines.

Championing Inclusion

Calamia's advocacy is gaining traction. Earlier this year, they won the first-ever nonbinary division at the Tokyo Marathon, having campaigned for its introduction. The Tokyo Marathon was the last of the original Majors to add this inclusive category, marking an important step towards recognizing gender diversity in athletics.

“It's crucial for sports to embrace gender diversity,” Calamia explained on a recent podcast interview. “Nonbinary divisions help ensure athletes don’t have to compromise their identity by choosing between traditional binary categories.”

Participation in these divisions is growing. At the Boston Marathon, 70 runners competed in the nonbinary division this year, up from 48 last year. This marks the third year Boston has offered this option.

Barriers and Progress

Despite progress, challenges remain. Calamia points out that nonbinary divisions are harder to establish in team sports due to the need for sufficient participants. However, they remain optimistic, believing that, "if you build it, they will come."

Crucially, Calamia stresses that creating nonbinary divisions does not mean every trans athlete should compete in them. “Transmasculine and transfeminine people who identify more on the binary should be welcome in those divisions,” they clarify.

Sports and Society

In addition to their marathon achievements, Calamia uses their platform to address broader societal issues. They have criticized recent legal decisions, such as the UK Supreme Court's ruling on the definitions of "woman" and "sex," which could exclude trans women from single-sex spaces like sports.

"These rulings stoke fear and threaten the participation of trans individuals in public life," Calamia commented on social media, highlighting the parallel political pressures facing trans communities in both the UK and US.

Expanding the Conversation

Calamia is not alone in this fight. Fellow trans athlete Schuyler Bailar, known for his achievements in swimming, joins them in advocating for trans inclusion in sports. In the lead-up to the London Marathon, Bailar and Calamia released a video addressing misconceptions about trans athletes.

“People are worried about trans athletes dominating sports, but that simply isn’t happening,” Calamia emphasized in the video, noting that the Boston Marathon has permitted trans women to compete in the women’s division since 2018 without any issues of dominance arising.

Despite fear-mongering from some media outlets, trans athletes like Calamia and Bailar continue to excel while advocating for fair treatment and inclusion.

The Road Ahead

Efforts to introduce nonbinary and open categories are underway in various sports. For instance, rowing competitions in Canada have welcomed these new divisions, and trans nonbinary athletes have participated enthusiastically.

Calamia's journey, both as an athlete and advocate, demonstrates the positive impact of inclusive policies in sports. By allowing athletes to compete authentically, sports can create a more welcoming environment for all participants.

As Calamia prepares for the London Marathon, their message is clear: nonbinary divisions should be a standard across all sports, ensuring that every athlete has the opportunity to compete as their true selves.

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