Listen to @DrDavid_hughes being interviewed on @bbcworldservice about trans eligibility in women's cricket. He is Chief Medical Officer of Australian Institute of Sport @theAIS. I expected him to give us some robust science to prove its fair.... but no /1 bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0…
@DrDavid_Hughes@bbcworldservice@theAIS The interview starts 15 mins into the programme. He mentions the 'blowback' about the policy but dismisses it as 'misinformed'. He is 'confident' that 10 years from now it will be shown to be 'hyperbole'. He says the more trans players he meets the less worried he becomes'. /2
@DrDavid_Hughes@bbcworldservice@theAIS But when pressed on science he hasn't got much to give. Will reducing Testosterone for 12 months be enough? "only time will tell". /3
@DrDavid_Hughes@bbcworldservice@theAIS When questioned about the testosterone limit of 10 nmol/L being much higher than women he said most trans females on hormone suppression tablets have barely detectable levels. WRONG. Testes removal achieves this but NOT hormone treatment. /4 medscape.com/viewarticle/89…
@DrDavid_Hughes@bbcworldservice@theAIS If there's a 'rash of trans females showing advantage' then sports will likely adjust their policies. He admits its 'quite likely' that they will. So basically, the women's game is just a live experiment... fairness and safety for women in their own game a minor concern. /5
@DrDavid_Hughes@bbcworldservice@theAIS Luckily @sportaustralia has a helpful guide to the 'research' supporting trans inclusion in sport. At last some scientific evidence to support their inclusion policy! But no.... /6
We have been calling for this guidance for a long time. We have been reporting rogue employers each time they misuse the law by advertising for ‘self-identifying women’ to fill women-only roles. /2
THREAD
In March the @EHRC promised to publish new guidance to stop employers mis-stating the law on female-only job adverts. We had reported numerous breaches over 2 years /1
The EHRC also said it would ‘enforce’ the law and would take ‘urgent action’ when problems are reported. We reported ‘Survivors Network’ who said ‘being female’ was a requirement but ‘this post is open to self-identifying women’ /2
Despite being reported to EHRC the advert was not corrected and remained live until applications closed. However, the wording of its latest advert for a therapist has changed in line with the law. All references to ‘self-identifying’ have gone. /3
Today we have published the first ever report on the impact of trans inclusion in sport in the UK.
It shows a widespread problem, affecting many women and girls all over the country, at all levels, from juniors to masters and at all levels of competition and participation. 1/11
Women and girls are being put at risk and their legitimate concerns disregarded.
THREAD:
Despite clear law to the contrary, female police officers are required to perform intimate searches on men - if that man says he identifies as a woman /1
The law says SAME SEX ONLY but the Statutory Code prioritises GENDER IDENTITY. This is yet another example of bad guidance corrupting policy contrary to the law /2
The Police And Criminal Evidence Act (1984) sets out how the police must lawfully search suspects.
55(7) A constable may not carry out an intimate search of a person of the opposite SEX /3
THREAD:
Yesterday we received an email from a woman who had checked the meaning of a “woman-only” fitness class at her local gym. With permission, we’re sharing the story verbatim. Well done that woman 💪… /1
“Warrington's major sports centre is run by a company called LiveWire. They are widely publicising "women only fitness classes", saying how "empowering" these will be because they are "women only"…. /2