Las personas trans e intersexuales en el deporte competitivo español: tres casos / The Transsexual and Intersex People in Spanish Competitive Sport: Three Cases

La concepción cultural del deporte como una actividad predominantemente masculina ha dificultado la participación de algunos grupos sociales como mujeres, personas trans o intersexuales. El carácter sexuado del deporte se apoya en las diferencias fisiológicas entre mujeres y hombres, y una supuesta desventaja de las mujeres. Por ello, se establecen pruebas de sexo para las mujeres y el acceso de las personas trans e intersexuales se ve obstaculizado. En este estudio reconstruimos, a partir de las normativas y el contexto socio-histórico internacional, la evolución de la participación de personas trans e intersexuales en el deporte competitivo contemporáneo. Asimismo, se profundiza en la aplicación y gestión de dichas normas en el contexto español, apoyado en tres casos de deportistas trans e intersexuales españoles. La discriminación y humillación que han sufrido estas personas obliga a mantener una visión crítica de las políticas deportivas creadas hasta la actualidad

The cultural conception of sport as a predominantly male activity has hindered the participation of some social groups such as women, transsexual or intersex people. The sexed nature of sport is based on physiological differences between women and men, and a supposed women disadvantage. Thus, sex controls are established for women and then trans and intersex people's access to sport is hampered. In this study we reconstruct, based on the regulations and the international socio-historical context, the evolution of the participation of transsexual and intersex people in contemporary competitive sport. Likewise, the application and management of these norms in the Spanish context is deepened, supported by three cases of Spanish transsexual and intersex athletes. The discrimination and humiliation suffered by these persons enforce to maintain a critical vision of the sports policies hitherto created

Development and validation of the Barriers to Physical Activity and Sport Questionnaire for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning persons.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to develop the Barriers to Physical Activity and Sport Questionnaire for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (BPASQ-LGBTQ+ [encompassing all spectrums of sexuality and gender]) persons (LGBT), which measures barriers using a socio-ecological model, and to validate it through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. STUDY DESIGN: Validation study. METHODS: First, content validity was achieved by (a) developing a bank of items, (b) discussing the adequacy of the items in a committee of experts and classifying the selected ones under three socio-ecological levels (intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental) and (c) refining wording and relevance of the items after a pilot test. Second, 709 LGBTQ+ persons completed the questionnaire online to establish construct validity, criterion validity and internal consistency. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis revealed four underlying factors in the BPASQ-LGBTQ+, thus suggesting that the items initially considered as 'environmental barriers' could be constituting two separate factors based on social interactions or organizational aspects. Competing three- and four-factor models were tested using confirmatory factor analysis. The four-factor structure with two different factors accounting for environmental barriers obtained better values in all fit indices. Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.745 to 0.813. Participants engaging in regular physical activity and sports reported lower scores in all the barriers subscales than their counterparts. CONCLUSION: The BPASQ-LGBTQ+ is valid and reliable to measure barriers to physical activity and sports in LGBTQ+ people across the different socio-ecological levels. It could be especially useful for understanding the complex relationships between these barriers, which is of great relevance for the design and implementation of interventions addressed to encourage physically active lifestyles among LGBTQ+ people.