As transgender individuals continue to lobby for their basic civil liberties, 20 countries have passed some form of legislation recognizing their rights. Consider Argentina’s approval of the Identity Law making sex-change surgery a legal right, and India’s Supreme Court granting the country’s “hijra” or transgender people the right to self-identify without sex reassignment surgery. The list continues for 18 other countries granting civilians their right to self-identify. Although gaining legislative protection is important, the laws can’t always protect this population from the day-to-day risks and stigmas they face. However, it is through incredibly brave individuals like Schuyler Bailar, that these stigmas are being abolished. Schuyler Bailar 21, is among the first openly transgender athletes to compete in any sport on an NCAA Division 1 men’s team.
Bailar attended high school in Virginia, where he was a star competitor on the girl’s swim team, setting both school and state records. During junior year, he broke his back rendering him unable to swim. While in recovery, Bailar was given time to self-reflect. It was at this point that he realized he was transgender. While remembering his life prior to high school, being bullied for dressing and acting like a tomboy was a standout moment, he decided to change his appearance to match the male identity he had been born into. Swimming became not only a sport he could thrive in, but also his outlet. A means to deal with the social pressures to conform that are experienced by many transgender individuals. Adding to Bailar’s stress, Harvard University had already recruited him to swim for the women’s team.
The swimmer acknowledged the importance of being true to himself, despite potentially losing his spot on a Division 1 team. As a result, Schuyler admitted to the women’s coach that he was transgender and wanted to start hormone therapy. Understanding, she discussed it with the men’s coach, who invited him to swim for the men’s team. This transition frightened Bailar, but he knew he would not be “near as good as I would have been on the women’s side.” Yet, with encouragement from family, friends, and coaches, Bailar overcame his fear and joined the men’s team. Willing to put in the extra work, Bailar makes all his intervals and keeps up with his teammates at practice.
Bailar recognizes “There’s a lot of other kinds of winning,” than the gold medals and record-breaking that he was accustomed too. He added, “I get to be me, and I get to contribute to the world in a lot of different ways that are not gold medals, that I think are actually valuable to me and to other people, and that I find a lot of value in.” He wants the LGBTQ community to know that athletes like him exist. For his courageous and revolutionary actions, Bailar was awarded the SMYAL Community Advocate Award for 2016 for his work as “a vocal advocate for LGBT rights.” Additionally, the 60 Minutes profile of Schuyler entitled “Switching Teams” was nominated for the 28th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. Adding to the social advocacy work Bailar has been doing, on June 28th, 2017, he was profiled by the International Olympic Committee in a series entitled IDENTIFY for his activism in promoting gender inclusion in sports.
Schuyler Bailar is a role model, his bravery in switching teams is truly inspirational; he is succeeding in his mission to show the world that his identity does not distinguish his ability. “I mean me as a trans athlete who’s healthy, who’s happy, who’s out there, who’s succeeding, who’s doing what he loves, who gets to be who he is — I want kids to see that,” Bailar told NBC News.
Images Obtained From:
http://www.metroweekly.com/2016/11/schuyler-bailar/
https://www.pride.com/transgender/2016/4/27/5-reasons-why-trans-swimmer-…