CASTER SEMENYA: A VICTORY FOR THE GAY COMMUNITY Why is the entire gay and lesbian communnity not celebrating the hypocrisy of the Mokgadi Caster Semenya debacle? Come on guys, this is a victory. The International Association of Athletics Federations is conducting tests to verify the sex of the 18-year-old runner from Pietersburg in South Africa, after the runner anihilated orldpposition in the 800m in Berlin this month. Casyer went on to win gold in 1.55.45, the fastest time this year.in the world this year.

According to reports, the difference between sex and gender must be clarified. In most cases they are used interchangeably, but this is incorrect. Gender refers to how an individual portrays and perceives him or herself---for example male or female. It is more of a social construct than a biological one. Sex, on the other hand, is biological, and that is the essence of the debate in this case, whether or not Semenya is of male or female sex, not gender.

Apparently, genitals alone are not proof enough to determine the sex of an individual, and the verification test, which takes weeks to complete, requires a physical medical evaluation, includes reports from a gynecologist, endocrinologist, psychologist, an internal medicine specialist and an expert on gender.

Suddenly, it is not enough to pull down the jeans. We now have to look at the genes to determine an individuals’ sex.

We are now informed that XX and XY chromosomes, androgens and all kinds of other hormones, as well as many other generic issues have to be taken into consideration.

Is that not what the gay and lesbian community have been telling us all along?

Kader Khan
Editor
info@yummie.co.za