The Boston Athletic Association (BAA) said on Monday that the Boston Marathon is taking efforts to make the 2023 event more accessible for nonbinary runners. The new regulations allow nonbinary runners to choose a nonbinary option for their gender rather than having to register in the men’s or women’s category.
The 127th Boston Marathon will take place on April 17, 2023, and the BAA says they are trying to increase chances for nonbinary persons in all of their events, as well as for shorter distances.
Nonbinary runners who finish a marathon within the qualifying period are qualified to enter the renowned event. The organization said that it has not yet created the requirements for nonbinary runners and would first adopt the women’s standard.
“Discussions are ongoing with nonbinary athletes in an effort to further promote inclusion at all BAA events,” the association said, adding, “We view this first year as an opportunity to learn and grow together.”
The Boston Marathon is not the first race to welcome nonbinary runners. In 2021, the Philadelphia Distance Run became the first large race in the U.S. to establish a nonbinary division and offer equal prize money, according to The Associated Press. The Brooklyn Marathon and Half Marathon followed soon after, the AP said.