S4E16 - Challenging the Binary: Making a New Lane in Rowing

This is the final episode in a four-part special series on gender identity policies in rowing.

Since December 2022, World Athletics, World Rowing, USRowing and other national governing bodies, have announced updated gender identity policies. In response, voices across the rowing community have stood up for "fairness for women" and alternatively "inclusion for marginalized athletes." We're taking a closer look.

Dr. David Scherzer learned to row with DC Strokes Rowing Club, one of just a handful of dedicated, independent LGBTQ+ rowing clubs in the world. But for many years, even DC Strokes wasn’t able to provide answers to David about how they could participate and race as a non-binary athlete.

And when Bobbi Kizer, PhD inquired about racing at Head of the Lake as a transgender athlete, the organizing committee worked with them to create an exhibition “mixed” category for all genders.

But in general, the current USRowing gender inclusion policy leaves transgender, non-binary, and other gender nonconforming rowers with very few opportunities to race.

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QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Rachel and Tara re-introduce the podcast’s Gender Identity Policies series
05:40 - Welcome and The Huddle
08:05 - David and Bobbi’s rowing week
10:12 - Hot Seat Q&A
12:45 - Rowing origin stories: Bobbi, then David
21:02 - Club community agreements and DEI committees
25:09 - Intro to World Rowing and USRowing gender identity policies
26:55 - Laying the groundwork: sex, gender, and gender identity
29:45 - Bobbi’s experiences as a trans rower at SRRA, Head of the Lake, and ZLAC sweep camp
37:50 - David’s surprising experiences as a non-binary rower in an LGBT+ club
40:32 - What current USRowing open and mixed racing opportunities mean for non-binary and trans rowers
46:32 - ICONS petition and “fairness for females”
53:21 - As a new member of USRowing’s DEI committee, David is ambivalent
56:08 - David and Rachel’s perspective on DC Strokes Rowing Club and the challenge of retaining gender non-conforming rowers
1:01:35 - How Bobbi’s combining their psychiatry practice with the sport through rowing group therapy 
1:06:00 - Sign off

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To see photos of Bobbi and David, and to get links to the people, clubs, policies, and events mentioned in this episode, check out the show notes on our website.

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This episode was made possible in part by Barb, Breakwater Realty, Concept2, EB5 Investors, RowSource, and our Patrons.