The non-binary category is like having a category for cheese lovers or scientologists

Mara Yamauchi lays bare the grift that races large and small are falling for

Here’s an introduction to the non-binary category from the first page of the Guide to Non-Binary Inclusion in Running: “You will make mistakes and that is okay. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and in turn, don’t be offended if a trans or non-binary individual doesn’t have the time or desire to answer.”

If that isn’t an eye-watering, flashing neon sign of entitlement, I don’t know what is. Non-binary people are very special. They may not have time or desire to answer your questions. And if they do, you better listen and agree, you ignorant bigot.

The author of this manifesto, a male-born non-binary person named Jake Fedorowski, doesn’t have time or desire to answer my questions. When I asked if he’d like to have a conversation about how the non-binary category effects women, he responded thusly: “I took a quick look at your Substack and unfortunately don’t think a conversation between us would be productive. I only have so much energy and am only ‘game’ to having a conversation with someone who is willing to listen.”

Luckily, Olympic marathoner and women’s sports activist Mara Yamauchi is quite game to talk about the non-binary category that has spread like pink eye in a preschool, and is now offered in five of the six World Marathon Majors, as well as small town 5Ks and other road races to low key trail events. On the surface the non-binary category is a nice EDI checkbox that doesn’t hurt anybody, but in practice it has created a world of problems that neither advocates like Jake Fedorowski nor race directors seem to have thought through.

For example, when non-binary runner Riley Brady finished ahead of the second place woman in the 2022 Javelina Jundred, and there were two Golden Tickets to Western States for the female category but none for the non-binary category, Brady was able to shift over to the female category in order to accept that Golden Ticket. By shifting to the women’s category, Brady bumped second place woman Nicole Bitter to third, and out of a Golden Ticket. Though non-binary advocates have been very adamant that non-binary people need their own category with equal prize money and bathrooms and finish lines and lead bicycles and press conferences to feel safe and seen and celebrated as they are, when it becomes expedient or useful (such as when a prize is on the line), non-binary runners are quick to abandon that gender identity in favor of the traditional binary. Makes you think that maybe the non-binariness is not quite as do-or-die as it would seem, and that Brady does in fact have a clear understanding of her sex.

“I suspect it’s [the spread of non-binary categories] due to the capture of these organizations by gender ideology,” said Yamauchi. “They’ve employed EDI people who have convinced these races to do it. Or they’ve been pressured into it by the trans lobby. They haven’t thought enough about the impact on men or women. I think race organizations think this is the new gay rights movement, the new civil rights movement, and that they must embrace this to be modern and progressive. But non-binary categories and males in the female category are not inclusive—they exclude females. They haven’t thought through the consequences.”

But Yamauchi has thought through the consequences of the non-binary category, and has a number of them.

1. “It conflates sex and gender identity. Sex is a material reality; we are all either male or female, and that has a massive influence on our ability to run fast. When race entries offer a non-binary category it looks like another sex—male, female, non-binary. It’s inaccurate, and causes confusion.”

2. “Non-binary has no relevance to physical abilities so should not be used as a category in sports. Things that affect sport performance are sex, age, disability in para sports, and weight in some sports. If we didn’t have categories, only healthy young males would win. Categories only have meaning if they’re relevant to physical abilities. For example, we don;’t have categories for scientologist or flat earther, or cheese lover because they’re not relevant to physical ability. Non-binary is one of those. If things that are irrelevant can be a category, why not have a category for cheese lovers?”

3. “The non-binary category is unfair to females. And in less obvious ways, to some males. It’s a mixed sex category. Males run on average 10% faster than females, so in reality, the non-binary category becomes a second category for men to win, and in some cases, win prize money. Fairness where prize money is concerned rewards hard work. I worked for years and years to get to the point where I could earn money by running. Non-binary runner Jake Caswell has reportedly earned more than $20,000 in the past year for running very average times. Another non-binary runner, Caswell’s Frontrunners NY teammate Zackary Harris, ran 3:09 in the NYC Marathon and won $4000. That’s absurd; it’s rewarding a very mediocre performance. In the same race, Caswell was beaten by 146 men and 25 women, most of who earned nothing, yet he won $5000 for running slower. Prize money in the non-binary category makes a total mockery of the hard work that athletes do. ”

4. “Many people thought the non-binary category would be the home for trans

   runners, but it hasn’t turned out that way. The 2023 London Marathon

   had a non-binary category, but that didn’t stop male Glenique Frank, who

   identifies as a trans woman, from running in the female category. The

   London Marathon defended Frank’s participation in the female category as

   a ‘unique celebration of inclusivity and humanity.’ The winner of this year’s

   Boston Marathon’s non-binary category has raced in the male, female, and

   non-binary categories since July 2022. So the non-binary category is just a

   third category where men can enjoy fair competition. In events where males

   are allowed in the female category, there are zero categories that are just

   for females.

   UK Athletics followed World Athletics’ ban on post-puberty males in the female category. Of course, policing categories at the recreational level is difficult, but having a robust policy that says males compete in the male division and females in the female division, that sex matters, and we will punish you if you flout this rule would be a start. UK Athletics issued guidance for race directors warning that asking the question ‘What is your gender?’ with options male/female/non-binary breaches data protection law, but the London Marathon has asked this

   question again. They’ve created problems for themselves. I don’t understand it.”

5. Cal Calamia. I just don’t know what to say.

   

   Calamia was born female but is very open about having been on

   testosterone for four years, and was non-binary runner-up at Chicago and

   Boston, World Athletics Elite Platinum and Platinum races respectively.

   Does USADA or World Athletics not care about this? Are they okay with

   people openly breaking their anti-doping rules? If she can do it, what’s to

   stop anyone in any category from taking testosterone? The media’s lack of

   interest in this is astonishing. The New York Times and San Francisco Bay

   Times did gushing pieces on Calamia in which she said she used

   testosterone — they let it go. Not a single question about that.

   I’ve been gobsmacked by the misogyny of left wing media, and the running press, and their willingness to look the other way. Gender ideology reveals people’s true colors.”

6. The Boston qualifying time for the non-binary category was 30 minutes

   slower than for males. For example, non-binary activist Jake Fedorowski

   would not have qualified as a male. Why does this tiny group get this

   luxury? Running a marathon involves discomfort, hard work, the ability to

   cope with setbacks, things not going your way. You have to get on with it.

   The non-binary ethos is the opposite of that. It’s a list of demands, the

   antithesis of the humble approach. Why does this entitled group get so

   much special treatment?

   There are groups that are genuinely absent from running events. For

   example, marathons have become quite expensive. People on low incomes

   could be helped with inclusion initiatives.

7. Men in the men’s division also benefit from the non-binary category. Here is

   a chart that shows how having the non-binary category gives males, both in

   the male category and males in the non-binary category, two categories in

   which to earn money.

   

   Not listening to women is as old as time. It’s been here forever. But this affects men as well. As we’ve seen on the LetsRun message board, men are pissed off that non-binary men are running slow and getting easy money for it. Of course, when men get cheated, it’s the start of something.