The Federation of Gay Games would like to clarify some details, and has made some important changes to our registration system, to ensure that trans and non-binary identities are adequately provided with space and visibility to compete at the Gay Games XII in Valencia in 2026.
Removal of legal gender documentation requirement in Wrestling & Grappling
Clarification of All Gender category language
Reinforcement of self-identification principle
The Federation of Gay Games (FGG) would like to clarify some details about the competition categories at Gay Games XII Valencia 2026 which specifically impact certain gender identities. The FGG has also made some important changes to the registration requirements for certain LGBTQ+ identities after discovering that some identities were not appropriately included.
The mission of the FGG, and that of the Gay Games XII Valencia 2026, has always been to provide a safe space for all members of the LGBTQ+ community and our allies to participate in sports and culture. Our mission depends on delivering this commitment and we take great pride in organizing an event where every participant can compete in alignment with their authentic gender identity.
The FGG and Gay Games València operate under a core principle of gender self-identification.
Clarification of the All Gender Competition Category Description
The FGG would like to ensure that there is complete clarity regarding our All Gender competition category.
Many of the sports that we offer at the Gay Games are both divided into 3 competition categories:
Female – which is the competition category for any individual that identifies as a female, including both cisgender females and transgender females.
Male – which is the competition category for any individual that identifies as male, including both cisgender males and transgender males.
All Gender – an additional competition category designed to ensure inclusive participation for athletes who do not wish to compete exclusively in the Male or Female divisions, including non-binary athletes.
Our registration documentation describes the All Gender category as follows:
“All Gender competition category is for anyone who does not identify as a cisgender male or cisgender female.”
To clarify the meaning of this terminology, the FGG would like to explain that the All Gender category is designed specifically to provide a space for those individuals who do not identify as cisgender men or cisgender women. This includes transgender men, transgender women, non-binary individuals, agender individuals and anyone else who wishes to compete in this category.
In fact, transgender men are free to choose to participate in either the Male category or the All Gender category. And transgender women are free to choose to participate in either the Female category or the All Gender category.
However, the All gender competition category is not designed for cisgender men, who would normally participate in the Male category. Nor is it suitable for cisgender women, who would normally participate in the Female category.
By dividing the event’s competition category into these three groups, we believe that all members of our community have a category they are free to participate in, and that the separate categories can ensure meaningful access, dignity, and equitable participation for all athletes.
Update to the Wrestling & Grappling Competition Category Description
The competition categories used for the Wrestling and Grappling events have now been altered to correct an error which does not align with the values and needs of our community, specifically related to trans and non-binary identities.
Previously the competition categories for Wrestling and Grappling were described as follows:
Male (as per legal document)
Female (as per legal document)
Gender-Neutral (if you identify as a gender that does not align with your legal document or as gender non-binary, then you qualify to compete in the Gender-Neutral event)
After discussions with ADI, the federation of LGBTI+ sports entities in Spain and Portugal, and Wrestlers Without Borders – the FGG delegate sports group that organizes the wrestling and grappling events at Gay Games event – the FGG identified that the use of a legal documentation to validate the gender identity of members of our community goes against our values of allowing any member of our community to participate as the gender identity that they authentically are.
For this reason, the competition categories for this sport have been updated to now remove the need for individuals to use a legal document to confirm their identity in any way. The categories are now described as follows:
“Athletes self-select into the division that matches their gender identity. Please note that the Open category is an additional option for anyone who prefers it—not a place that segregates trans or non-binary athletes.
Men
Women
Open
A trans and non-binary inclusion statement from Wrestling Without Borders can be found here. The FGG’s gender inclusion policy can also be found here.
The FGG reaffirms its long-standing commitment to inclusion, dignity, and equitable participation in sport. And we look forward to another incredible Gay Games event, this year at Gay Games XII in Valencia in June 2026.
