HBO’s Real Sports tackles the controversial topic of transgendered athletes. In their Tuesday night (April 22, 2014) episode, Fallon Fox is featured. Fallon is a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter who was born a man but currently lives as a woman. The discussion of being a transgendered woman always ignites a debate in and out of the MMA community. Most people wish to avoid the topic and pretend it doesn’t exist. Kudos to HBO for tackling this challenging topic.
Since turning pro in mixed martial arts in 2012 and being outed by a reporter in 2013, Fallon Fox, 38, is now the most prominent transgender athlete in professional sports and a trailblazer for the transgender community. The reaction from the MMA community has largely been hostile, with many fans and fighters opposing her participation in the women’s divisions because they believe her male attributes provide an unfair advantage. Despite the scrutiny, Fox continues to fight. In this REAL SPORTS/Sports Illustrated segment, correspondent Mary Carillo goes one-on-one with Fox to learn about her struggles for acceptance and legitimacy in a sport where many still view her as a man. VIA HBO
Watch a preview of the segment that will air on Tuesday night.
The Huffington Post has an in depth article that asks, “Do transgender athletes have an unfair advantage?”
