Transgender Rights Discussion Likely To Go Global As Olympics Approach
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -Transgender issues have made headlines for months, and with the Olympics less than two months away, this year's new recommendations on trans athletes could come front and center.
The International Olympic Committee relaxed its guidelines on transgender athletes earlier this year. In the past games, trans athletes were required to have sex re-assignment surgery and two years of hormones before they could compete, but now female to male trans people can compete in men's or women's competition without restriction...and male to female...need only have specific hormone therapy.
"They don't have to have surgery, but they have to demonstrate that their testosterone level are below a certain level for at least a year," says Bala Cynwyd-based Dr. Sherman Leis.
Dr. Leis has performed more than 1,000 sex reassignment procedures. He says while no openly trans athletes are currently registered, he believes the guidelines will open doors:
"It'll be more of a recommendation with these recommendations."
The Olympics Committee conducted gender verification tests, but abandoned the practice in 2000.
