International Olympic Committee and Transgender Athletes

This weekend the International Olympic Committee announced that it would change its policy on transgender athletes competing in the Olympics. What does that mean? Officials say athletes who transition from female to male will be able to compete “without restrictions.” Athletes who transition male to female can compete in the games without having undergone gender reassignment surgery. It’s a big deal for transgender athletes everywhere.

Joanna Harper in Lausanne, Switzerland in April 2015. (Photo by Sebastien Agnetti for The Washington Post)