PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A group of nonbinary runners filed a complaint against the Philadelphia Marathon over its gender category policies, which they say discriminate against non-gender-conforming athletes.
In 2022, the Philadelphia Marathon added nonbinary registration for non-elite runners, but there is still no nonbinary registration for elite runners taking part in the race.
Josh Fernandez, executive director of the running group Queer Run, said the marathon’s policy forces nonbinary athletes to misgender themselves.
“And then put themselves at odds with their male and female peers,” they said.
Fernandez has worked for years to get the Philadelphia Marathon to add a separate nonbinary category for elite runners. They also said it’s more important now than ever to support trans athletes.
“Especially now given the political backdrop we’re seeing across the country with anti-trans rhetoric, anti-trans policies,” said Fernandez.
They said the next step is for the city to formally respond to their complaint. Fernandez said they would love to see a nonbinary category established before the 2025 marathon in November, but the training window is closing.
The Chicago, New York, Boston, London, and Berlin marathons all have nonbinary divisions.
Philadelphia city officials were not available for comment.