Inclusivity in Marathons

The exclusion of trans and nonbinary people in sports has been a regular topic in the news, but some good news has been circulating. Earlier this year, marathon organizers announced the addition of a nonbinary division - meaning that those whose gender identities do not align with male or female can sign up and participate in the marathon as their authentic selves.

Until now, runners could only register as either male or female. With the establishment of a nonbinary division, runners do not have to claim a false identity to run or to feel the shame that would go along with that choice. This journey towards inclusion began at the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Marathon where the new division’s winner, Jake Caswell, expressed their gratitude, stating in a Runner’s World article, “Winning as my own authentic self was very gratifying… It felt really good to be a part of a division that’s starting to become legitimized.”

Since then, nonbinary divisions have become a trend in marathons, with cities such as Boston, Chicago, and London adopting the idea. Them, a media outlet that celebrates diversity in gender, describes in an article that the nonbinary division still needs work structurally but has the potential for growth as more nonbinary runners sign up.Them also shares that this is a time of celebration as trans and nonbinary athletes express their excitement on social media.

The ultimate goal for creating this new division was articulated nicely by Chicago Marathon consultant, Jake Fedorowski, in a report by ABC7 News. Jake stated, “At the end of the day, we don't want people showing up, being misgendered, having a negative experience. No one is advocating for that.”

At Camp Lightbulb, we understand the impact of inclusion and what it means to feel seen and respected as one’s authentic self. That is why we work to create welcoming and inclusive camps. It’s wonderful to see that the magic that we create at camp for LGBTQ+ youth is being created in our communities outside of camp as well.