After competing in events in three gender categories, a transgender charity runner from Daventry may attempt to complete the entire set of six marathon “majors” in Boston on Monday.
Glenique Frank is urging competition organizers to establish a specific category for transgender athletes after apologizing for last year’s London Marathon following criticism for running in the adult category.
“I want to push to have a category in global sports and charity events, everything, for transgender athletes,” she told the BBC.
Governments around the world need to take this seriously because many transgender athletes are entering incorrectly, which is actually tarnishing the reputation of the transgender community.
The 55-year-old has raised around £36,000 for UK charities by previously completing the five 26.2-mile marathon majors in New York, Tokyo, Chicago, Berlin, and London.
Following the controversy over her gender category decision in London, she ran as a man in New York in 2022, and later ran as a woman in Chicago and Berlin.
In recognition of completing all six major world marathons, Frank has entered the Boston Marathon on Monday in the non-binary category, and upon completion, she will receive “The Six Star” Abbott medal.
“I’m going to continue raising money for charity until I can’t run anymore, or I’ll walk,” Frank told the Daventry Express. “I just want to help. I want people to know that I’m grateful for their support.”
“I don’t have a choice. I don’t want to be misgendered.”
Frank, who has been fundraising for the children’s charity Whizz-Kidz, finished 6,160th out of a female field of more than 20,000 in London with a time of 4hr 11min 28sec in what was her 17th consecutive appearance in the iconic event.
“I wasn’t trying to deceive the public, but I apologize for entering under the female category,” she said last year. “I may have entered under the wrong category. I simply registered as a member of the general public and am raising funds for charities.
Speaking earlier this year, she added: “I still feel upset that I upset so many people. It’s a serious issue. When that story broke, the national media thought I was a fraud, and all I am is a charity runner. It knocked my confidence.
“It’s all about my identity. I don’t want to disrespect non-binary individuals. Right now, when I enter, I’m forced to enter under the non-binary category. Unfortunately, there is no transgender category.
“I don’t have a choice. It’s quite limited. I feel excluded. It’s not acceptable. If they simply added transgender women and men to the categories, we would all be happy. I’m not ‘different’. I’m transgender.
“Because I don’t fit in, some people think that I’m dishonest, deceitful, or wrong. I’m running for all those who don’t fit the norms that are expected of them. People shouldn’t get angry with each other but rather ask questions.”
The world governing body is open to introducing new categories, but transgender women are prohibited from competing in the female category if they have undergone male puberty.
“The transgender issue is only at an elite level,” said Lord Coe, the World Athletics chairman. “I’m not saying trans people shouldn’t be able to compete at a grassroots level – we don’t want them to be denied the [mental and physical] benefits. It may be that we need a second tier.”
On Monday, the Government will host a roundtable discussion with British sports organizations about gender inclusion. With a particular focus on the policies of the Football Association and the England and Wales Cricket Board, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer wants sports to ensure equal treatment for the “fairness and safety” of female athletes in their competitive guidance.
