Reply to the Reply to the Letter to the Editor: Equity360: Gender, Race, and Ethnicity: Sex and Fairness in Sports

To the Editor,

Thank you for providing a forum and space to engage in this very important dialogue about women’s sports. While Dr. O’Connor and I may disagree on the issue of inclusion of transgender women in women’s sports, we do agree on inclusion and diversity for women, both cisgender and transgender.

Dr. O’Connor obviously is an accomplished athlete herself, and her other achievements in orthopaedic surgery and elsewhere are impressive and have been sustained over her esteemed career. She has been on the front lines of the struggles of women athletes and orthopaedic surgeons as she illustrates in her response; what she has endured is heart-wrenching [1]. Her passion for furthering women’s equity is admirable.

I am grateful that there has been a frank discussion on this matter in the orthopaedic community as our specialty is often called to treat athletes. I would recommend that for all those who are interested in this issue, a symposium, conference, or panel consisting of true experts in their respective fields be convened. A safe and open space that allows for a respectful exchange of ideas would be most welcome. Discussions should include the transgender community and other women athletes. I appreciate the opportunity to have conversations on this topic, and I will strive to increase my knowledge.