MANITOBA CYCLING ASSOCIATION

Transgender Member Participation Guiding Principles:

• People of trans identities should have equal opportunities to participate in our sport and strive for excellence at all levels and in all capacities.

• Policies governing participation of trans identities should nurture fair play, honesty, respect, and integrity.

• Policies governing participation of trans identities in our sport should embrace diversity and inclusion, resulting in a positive sporting experience, free of discrimination or harassment based on gender identity and expression.

• Participation in our sport should celebrate differences and focus on the benefits and the joy of sport.

• Policies governing the participation of trans people, particularly for our members, should be evidence-based, recognize the necessity to protect the privacy rights of trans individuals, and strive to prevent physical, emotional, and mental harm.

• Policies governing the participation of trans people should foster access and equitable participation for all participants.

• Practices that encourage understanding and support people of trans identities need to be enhanced to acknowledge the challenges and recognize the value of advocating for sport that is fair, safe, and open to everyone.

Definitions:

The following terms apply in this document:

a) “Association” – Manitoba Cycling Association Inc.

b) “Gender” – The socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes that a society assigns to masculinity or femininity.

c) “Gender Expression” – The way an individual represents or expresses gender to others – through behaviour, hairstyles, activities, voice, mannerisms, etc.

d) “Gender Identity” – An individual’s deeply held sense or knowledge of their own gender

e) “Sex” – An individual’s biology that is generally categorized as male, female, or intersex

f) “Transgender” – People whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. To align their bodies with their sense of gender, some transgender individuals undergo gender reassignment.

POLICY AND PROCEDURE

Purpose:

The Association believes that all individuals deserve a respectful and inclusive environment for participation that values the individual’s gender identity and gender expression. The Association wishes to ensure that all participants have access to programming in which they feel comfortable and safe. The Association is committed to implementing this policy in a fair and equitable manner.

Policy:

Manitoba Cycling has a self-identification policy for members of all genders. As such, members can choose their sex/gender without restriction when purchasing their Manitoba Cycling membership.

Procedure:

1. Members wishing to change their sex/gender marker on their license can contact Manitoba Cycling to have their sex/gender marker changed at any time during a season.

2. Members choosing ‘non-binary’ as their sex/gender marker will still be required to choose either ‘Male’ or ‘Female’ if they are purchasing a Provincial or UCI Race license.

3. Members requesting a sex/gender marker change on their license may request a category upgrade or downgrade as they find appropriate. Members changing their sex/gender marker on their license will carry their upgrade points accrued during a season, unless that Member elects to downgrade their race category, in which case upgrade points will be reset.

For those wishing more information on the justification for this policy, we point you to the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport: https://www.cces.ca/news/literature-review-does-notsupport-bans-transgender-women-Members Date Reviewed: July 24, 2023,