I agree 100%. Like I said I like to have open discussion from everyone without someone getting offended. I will be the first to tell you I don't know or understand the he/him thing. If I say something out of context its not on purpose. I am just stating things we can do to try and help. You said it yourself your strength and ability to throw have decreased. With that being said do you agree that the pdga should pay for blood testing? Insurance will not cover anything for my TRT. Yes the fallout of depression and anxiety was debilitating prior to TRT. Im not disagreeing with you. I just feel if I decided to play fpo and my test levels are in the 1000s I should not be allowed to play.
With the onus of the player making sure the player signs up for and is eligible for the division they sign up for, it would be contrary to that to assume or mandate the PDGA pay for blood works to be done in this regard.
Having said that, the PDGA may decide to pay for these; it would be weird though, as the "cost-prohibitive nature" of these, is most likely limited to the USA, while the PDGA is a (albeit USA-based) global organisation.
Testing for PED's (in and in-between games), as per WADA, is a different animal altogether.
You don't
"if I decided to play FPO" (I've seen this question arise way too often, so I'll jus texplain the process again); that absolutely mitigates (and possibly - maybe intentionally - ridicules;
hint: watch "Disclosure", the Netflix documentary on how media plays a terrible role in this) the trials and tribulations a transgender person goes through, before even getting to that stage.
In most countries and states, the process goes as follows:
and let me remind you, that is AFTER that person suffers gender dysphoria to such an extent that the pressure inside has built up so much that it is break or bust (because of societal non-acceptance and ridicule), that the person decides to act, and take affirmative action:
- reach out to GP, referral to gender therapist
(tick tock.. this is where waitlists apply; could be anywhere between several month through several years)
- therapy takes place (months, years, it depends)
- green light for access to medical treatment
(tick tock.. this is where waitlists apply; could be anywhere between several month through several years)
- in my country, deemed a socialist and progressive free-for-all Sodom and Gomorrah by certain people, average waitlist is 2.2 years!!!
Now I will focus exclusively on the transition as it relates to sports and how sports regulate eligibility
- start of Hormone Replacement Therapy
- if gonadectomy and/or gender-affirming surgery is desired, at the very least 12 months of HRT is required, after which, you guessed it...
(tick tock.. this is where waitlists apply; could be anywhere between several month through several years)
Now, let's assume that the person wishing to compete in FPO has met EITHER or BOTH of those requirements (T low through HRT || T low through gonadectomy)
* If that person previously played disc golf while their gender marker in the PDGA database was "M", they need to start reclassification request process.
If approved, eligibility follows.
* if that person either never played disc golf, never was a PDGA member, or already signed up with gender marker "F", they do not need to ask for a gender-reclassification, and may proceed.
BUT, and I hear the "but why didn't they have to report as transgender before?!?!"
Because cisgender women don't need to report their being cisgender either!!!
The difference lies with "in case that transgender person (without, prior to, beyond gender-reclassification) is reported to the PDGA for possibly not being eligible", the actions the PDGA would take vary, and take affirmative action where needed.
I can not stress this enough!!! Only if actual PROOF of said ineligibility be provided.
Frivolous accusations "Well, but they have short hair and broad shoulders, and throw 400ft!?!?" are binned, just like accusations that James Conrad has a competitive advantage for being allowed to use all of the space tor their run-up.