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Thursday, February 15, 8:00 AM
Badminton is for everyone! At Badminton Netherlands we strive for an inclusive sport where every person can be themselves. What is it like as a transgender in badminton and what issues are involved in a transition? A fun and candid interview with Jesper Leemhuis from BC Flits.
Introduce…
To introduce myself: Hello! My name is Jesper Leemhuis and I am 20 years old. I started playing badminton when I was 7 and I have been active at BC Flits in Wierden since 2015. I was born as a girl and since 2022 I have been living as a man. That year I started my medical transition and since February 2023 I have officially been on the court as a man within the sport.
When did you know you wanted to transition to change your gender?
For me, there wasn’t a certain point at which I realized that I wanted to continue through life as a man. This came about very slowly for me in the period from the end of 2018 to 2021, but when I look back on when I was young, I have always been very ‘boyish’.
How did your environment/fellow players/association react?
Everyone responded very well, I have not had a single wrong reaction and I realize very well that I am lucky with that, because that can be very different.
Can you tell us more about what a transition process entails?
That’s a nice list. This includes coming out of the closet, referrals, long waiting lists, conversations, receiving hormones and major operations with a long recovery. In addition, you have to find your place in society again and learn how to deal with it. It’s really shit sometimes, but everything is so worth it, you can finally be yourself!
What role has your association and Badminton Netherlands played in the transition?
Both parties helped me with the stepping stone to play as a man. During training I could play doubles/mixes with the same players as a man.
Within Badminton Netherlands there were no clear rules or guidelines for transgender people, so at the time of my transition we looked together at solutions that they could now apply in future situations. This will remain a complicated point, it is simply not possible to make one clear rule for it.
After consultation with the association, I was initially given a kind of dispensation to play as a man in tournaments. This was necessary because I had played higher in competition as a woman than what I would play in tournaments as a man. After consultation, we also created a new association number for me.
What obstacles have you encountered in this process?
Within the sport it was a shame for me that I lost my place as a woman. As a woman, I have played in the 3rd division, including against 2nd division players at tournaments and training. As a man, I started last season in the 5th Division.
Let me put it this way: I still missed the strength of the men from the 3rd Division, but I am used to the speed and way of playing from the 3rd Division. To play 5th Division was very strange. That’s why I play the tournaments at 3rd Division level again, I only learn from that. Outside of the sport, I found the name change very difficult, you have to get used to something completely new and it took me a lot of time.
Wany things actually helped you in the process?
The acceptance of my environment in both sports and private life. And the will to be myself. For example, at one point within the association a man said that I should just go into the men’s locker room and that that would be normal for him by now. That just gave me the final push to actually enter that dressing room.
What would you like to say to other badminton players considering a transition?
You know how you feel, be yourself, dare to be yourself and dare to be open about it. Don’t stop exercising. This is something that many people do during their transition, but in the end it is all so worth it! If you are reading this, are in a similar situation and would like to talk about it, you can always send me a message. You can find me on social media by my name! 🙂
Badminton Netherlands is currently working with NOC*NSF on a guideline for Sex and Gender Diverse people in badminton. The guideline is expected to be ready in the first half of 2024 and we will communicate more information.
2024-02-15 07:16:55
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