National Women’s Hockey League Outlines Transgender Acceptance Policy

A professional sports league for women hockey players has published an official acceptance policy on transgender players and gender identity.

The National Women's Hockey League announced Tuesday its "Policy on Participation of Transgender Athletes," effective immediately. The guidelines are partially based on similar guidelines published by the International Olympic Committee and affirms that the hockey league "supports athletes choosing to express their gender beyond the binary of female and male."

"This is an opportunity to move the conversation forward and accelerate social progress," said NWHL Commissioner Dani Rylan. "The NWHL wants to be a reference point and resource for the next player or league that may feel uncertain or underprepared for their moment."

While rather open, the policy does include certain limits on testoterone levels for transgender women in order to be eligible to play, "considering the most up-to-date medical and expert information available."

The league worked with the You Can Play project and the National Center for Lesbian Rights in developing the policy.