The Politics of Passing for Trans and Non-Binary People in Physical Activity in the UK: “Yeah, Congratulations! You Look like a Cis Person, Well Done!”

Participating in physical activity (PA) is known to increase our physical and psychological health and well-being. Yet, the complex intersections between our gendered bodies and the gendered spaces we exercise in can often be difficult to navigate when gender is viewed as non-conforming. For transgender and non-binary people, whose bodies are frequently policed and politicised in sporting contexts, there is often fear and hesitation in participating in PA. Documented concerns include being challenged in sporting spaces such as changing rooms and uncertainty about being welcomed or accepted in sport, with little attention paid to the lived experiences of participants and how inclusion in PA might be improved. This chapter draws on qualitative research from a wider study, focussing on the theme of ‘passing privilege’ within PA and associated areas, such as changing rooms and at the swimming pool. It argues how negotiating these spaces can be challenging due to cisgenderism, and the importance of foregrounding the lived experiences of transgender and non-binary people when considering their inclusion in PA.