NGO'S EXPRESS OUTRAGE AT SEMENYA'S CONTROVERSY

Lesego Tlhwale and Simangele Mzizi (BTM Interns)

SOUTH AFRICA- 21 August 2009:  Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) and human rights organizations have condemned the decision by the Association of Athletics Federations urging South African athlete Caster Semenya to have a gender test to determine her sex.

The controversy comes after Semenya�s 800 meter victory at The World Track and Field Championships In Berlin on Tuesday, 18 August.

�We are deeply disturbed that questions around her gender have taken prominence away from her performance throughout the international media and condemn utterly the demand from the international association of athletics federation that she should undergo gender testing�, reads the statement by the Joint Working Group (JWG).

�There is obviously a lot of anger from us and others around the way the IAAF handled the situation, to announce that she was going to have to undergo gender testing just hours before her race was disgraceful�, said Emily Craven, JWG coordinator.

Nonhlanhla Mkhize of the Durban Lesbian and Gay Community and Health Centre said that �It�s a disgrace unfair treatment and a pathetic attempt to sabotage a career of a great young achiever, this is seriously ridiculous, humiliating and disrespectful.�

Furthermore, Mkhize questioned how these tests are going to be done, and what would happen there after. �How does the IAAF intend to rely on these gender tests, what definition of gender would be applied that she would be tested against�, she asked.

According to a blog post by Sokari on blacklooks.org, �the IAAF�s decision to force Caster Semenya to undergo a �gender verification test� is an example of erroneous spectacle based on binary fixations which feed into the misappropriation of a person�s actual gender identity. This should not be used as an indicator of what a person�s identity is.�

The Journal of the American Medical Association (vol.284, 2000) states that �gender verification tests are difficult, expensive and potentially inaccurate.�

The journal also states that, �gender verification has long been criticized by geneticists, endocrinologists, and other medical community.�

These kinds of testings can be dated-back in the 1960s were athletes had to undress in front of a group of doctors to determine their gender. The gender tests later evolved and are a lot more scientific, hence Semenya will be examined by an endocrinologist, a gynecologist, and a psychologist.

Meanwhile in 2006 Santhi Soundarajan, an Indian athlete who competes in the middle distance track events she was stripped of a silver medal won at the 2006 Asian games after failing a gender verification test, disputing her eligibility to participate in the women�s competition.

According to the general agreement in the sporting world, ones� chromosomal gender need not always be an indication of ones social / biological gender.    
 
Emily Craven of Joint Working Group has also echoed Mkhize�s sentiments stating that �the testing is invasive, insulting, based on a very limited and questionable understanding of what constitutes a woman and has no place in modern sport.�

Although Semenya has been largely supported by other South Africans, Liesl Theron Director of Gender DynamiX has lambasted the South African media saying �instead of being proud of our champion the South African media and public is on a witch-hunt trying to define Semenya�s sex.�

�Dj�s on radio are dissecting Semenya�s person to a point of reducing her accomplishment to her genitals. We are reminded of how women�s bodies are so easily ridiculed and made into a spectacle because of gender notions�, Theron noted.

�We stand in full solidarity with Caster and applaud Athletics South Africa and other sports bodies for throwing their full support being her. We hope this support will be maintained regardless of the results of the gender inquisition to which Caster is to be subjected�, Craven concluded.