The story of Sarah Gronert has been at the back of my mind for a while, and a new Advocate article has finally spurred me to post about her. She’s an intersex (the I in LGBTQQI) player who has been cleared to play on the WTA Tour. The case is a first of its kind in women’s tennis, as far as we know. Years ago, Rene Richards’ case established that the U.S. Open essentially had to allow a male-to-female transsexual to play after gender-reassignment surgery and some other stipulations. This case is similar but different: Gronert is female and was born with genitalia of both sexes. The WTA already has rules (thanks in part to Richards) that mandated she must be able to play because she has female chromosomes. Plus, the battle Richards had to wage to win her right play was 10 times as difficult as Gronert’s battle.
I’m glad that the door’s been cleared for her to play. That’s great! To be born with both male and female genitalia has to be so tough psychologically, especially given the torment so many must rain down on someone who is intersex. She’s presently ranked 574 in the world with a career record of 23-12; So don’t expect to see her in a Grand Slam final anytime soon. But at least one coach thinks she has an advantage, and that she’ll be in the world’s top 50 very soon.
From the New York Daily News:
“There is no girl who can hit serves like that, not even Venus Williams,” said Schlomo Tzoref, who coaches player Julia Glushko. Glushko recently lost to Gronert in a tournament in Israel.
“When I heard her story, I was in shock. I don’t know if it’s fair that she can compete or not. She does have an advantage, but if this is what the WTA have decided, they probably know best. If she begins to play continuously, within six months she will be within the top 50,” he said.
This was the same argument used against Richards, and she didn’t exactly dominate women’s tennis.
What do you think the fallout would be if Gronert was able to win a Grand Slam championship? My guess: A huge backlash and public outcry awaits the first transgender or intersex athlete to take Olympic gold or Grand Slam titles.
on Apr 14th, 2009 at 2:32 PM
This story has been floating around for about a month. The negative comments of coaches are purely sour grapes. She has always identified as female and never went through any kind of male puberty, so her detractors don’t have a leg to stand on.
I just wanted to clarify something. Intersex people have some mixture of tissues, but they NEVER have a complete set of both genitalia. That is a myth. As a matter of fact there are dozens of intersex conditions and they range from obvious to invisible. Like women who have Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome outwardly appear 100% female. And they are usually not even diagnosed until the fail to menstruate as teens. The important message people should take away from this is that sex and gender (separate things) are MUCH, MUCH more complicated than people realize.
on Apr 14th, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Thank you so much for clarifying, Leah!! Your insight is much appreciated on this Web site, and we hope you’ll keep us in check on these issues!!!
on Apr 17th, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Letter to IOC President Jacques Rogge – January 4th, 2009
http://www.kristenworley.ca/index.php/open-letter-jacques-rogge-international-olympic-committee-ioc-january-4th-2009
Other key reference articles -
Globe & Mail – I’m A Woman on the Move’
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070907.wgender0908/BNStory/Front/home
Hindustan Times – ‘IOC Biggest threat to the future of global sport’
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=b6ccfdbb-62cc-41f2-8a58-59eb64d999ce
Hindustan Times – Who decides what is the definition of a woman?
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=7295ed9e-0668-40c1-93c9-ac5e12a78f99
New York Times – The XY Games
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/opinion/03boylan.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1
The Guardian – The Gender Trap
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/jul/30/olympicgames2008.gender
on Apr 17th, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Also very good reference -
Express Buzz Magazine – Jan 23rd 2009, titled – Punishing Difference…
John Hopkin’s review…
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Punishing+difference&artid=kunBaJO7yWk=&SectionID=f4OberbKin4=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=cxWvYpmNp4fBHAeKn3LcnQ==&SEO=gender,%20sexualities,%20santhi%20soundararajan
on Apr 18th, 2009 at 11:27 AM
I am glad that the young woman is being allowed to play women’s tennis. She was born with a condition called true hermaphroditism. She is chromosomally normal female aka xx. She had a vagina and an enlarged clitoris. Her ovaries contained both testicular and ovarian tissue. She is happy living as a woman. The other poster mentioned that AIS aka androgen insensitivity syndrome is not discovered until the girl fails to menstruate. That only applies in certain cases. many girls with complete ais are discovered younger than their teens when testicles that failed to descend are mistaken for inginual hernias. Girls with partial AIS have enlarged clitorises and ambiguous genitalia. There are boys with AIS as well who have small to micropenises and sometimes hypospasias. In Swyer Syndrome a woman is genetically male but has a uterus. There are sometimes cases of men who are genetically female xx. Gender and sexuality are a rainbow of spectrums. All people of intersex and transgendered status should be respected. Shalom.
on Apr 19th, 2009 at 3:26 PM
There has been some wonderful explaining intersex conditions also know as disorders of sex development (DSD). These medical conditons are often linked with sexuality, but shoudn’t be. Society needs to become aware of what intersex is. It shouldn’t be sooo taboo when it’s a medical issue.
on Apr 27th, 2009 at 1:30 PM
I have known many intersexed folks. And several transsexuals. The gay community can be bigoted against intersexed/transpeople. Just as society at large can be bigoted against gays and anyone who does not ‘fit’ into the stereotype of the ‘perfect’ person. I am glad that the tennis officials have allowed the woman to play tennis as a woman. The bigotry she has received is both sad and sickening.