Challenging the Binary: Making a New Lane in Rowing

culturecoachingRacing
Written By Rachel Freedman

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

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."

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.

ICYMI: Gender Identity Policy Series
Part 1 - Dr. Mary O’Connor: Fighting to Save Women’s Rowing
Part 2 - Coach Anne Strayer on Inclusion and Self-Worth in Rowing
Part 3 - Coach Kevin Harris on the Importance of Embracing Diversity

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

For a firsthand account of the experience of transgender scholastic and collegiate rowers, listen to our 2020 conversation with Cillian Mullen and Liam Miranda.

EPISODE Mentions

COACHES
🎧 Kevin Harris
Chris Shannon
🎧 Anne Strayer
🎧 Zoe Vais

CLUBS
🎧 DC Strokes Rowing Club
Spokane River Rowing Association
ZLAC

EVENTS & REGATTAS
Head of the Charles
Head of the Lake
Stonewall Regatta 
USRowing Annual Convention
USRowing Masters National Championships

This episode was written, produced, hosted, and edited by Tara Morgan and Rachel Freedman. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.

Rachel Freedman http://www.steadystatenetwork.com
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