Dr. Rachel McKinnon, PhD

ACADEMIC

ATHLETE

ACTIVIST

OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
WELCOME

Professor of philosophy, and roster faculty in women's and gender studies.
 
World champion cyclist.
 
Public speaker and activist for transgender rights.

These three aspects of my life are both distinct and highly interconnected. My academic research informs my activism. My athletic achievements inform my research and activism. And my activism permeates my academic and athletic pursuits.

ACADEMIC

PUBLIC SPEAKING

I have expertise in a wide range of topics spanning philosophy, trans* studies, and psychology. My recent work has focused increasingly on two broad topic areas: trans athlete rights and harassment, and epistemic injustice. This latter research focuses on ways in which people's claims of harm are inproperly doubted. 

I have published dozens of academic journal articles and book chapters, and my 2015 book The Norms of Assertion: Truth, Lies, and Warrant​. 
I travel the world giving invited paid presentations on a variety of topics, typically on issues of epistemic injustice, workplace harassment, and trans athlete rights. 

Recently, I have spoken in Berlin (Germany), London and Manchester (UK), Washington DC, Los Angeles, Memphis, and many others.

MEDIA

ATHLETE

I regularly write for outlets interested in my story as a world champion transgender athlete, and I give interviews to various print, television, and radio/podcast programs. 

Recently, my work has appeared in the Washtingon Post, Newsweek, CBC Sports, OutSports, and Ella Cycling Tips. I have given interviews for CTV News, CBC News, CBC Sports, The Evan Solomon Show, RadioLive! NZ, BBC, USA Today, VeloNews, Bicycling Magazine, and many others. 
I am one of the only transgender world champions in any sport. I achieved this in my 2018 UCI Masters Track Cycling gold medal in the Women 35-44 Sprint event in Los Angeles, and again in 2019 in Manchester. I also broke the F35-39 200m TT world record in the Sprint qualifying 

In the summer of 2019, I reached a UCI Elite world ranking of 85th in the sprint event. My goal is to compete for Canada in the 2020 and 2024 Olympics. This might make me the first out transgender Olympian.