Our statement on the new guidelines for transgender participation in sport published by the UK Sports Councils /1 fairplayforwomen.com/new-guidelines…
Today, the five Sports Councils have jointly published guidance on a new approach to transgender inclusion in sport, following a lengthy process in which they consulted widely with all stakeholders including Fair Play For Women /2
The independent review concluded that the inclusion of transgender people into the female sex category cannot guarantee fair and safe competition for women and girls. /3
The new guidance states “This is due to retained differences in strength, stamina and physique between the average woman compared with the average transgender woman or non-binary person recorded male at birth, with or without testosterone suppression”. /4
Dr Williams, Fair Play For Women said “It is now increasingly recognised that the existing approach to transgender inclusion in sport is out of date and no longer fit for purpose. We commend the Sports Councils for taking the lead to address this difficult and sensitive issue” /5
“This comprehensive review confirms what we all know: sex matters in sport. That’s why we have always needed a separate protected category for females, and still do.” /6
“It’s good to see all the UK’s sports councils confirming that reserving a sport category for biological females is both lawful and necessary to guarantee the fair and safe inclusion of women in sport.” /7
“This guidance puts an end to the idea that it is possible to allow people who were born male into the female sports category without women and girls paying the price.” /8
The new guidance makes clear that if a sport is sex-affected, it will now need to decide to EITHER prioritise trans inclusion OR to prioritise fair & safe competition for females. If possible, it should offer more than one version of their sport to deliver both priorities /9
Dr Williams said “We welcome the new clarity regarding science and the law, but we are disappointed that the Sports Councils have failed to give a clear signal that sport must always provide safe and fair access for women and girls”. /10
“The option for trans people to play in the sex category of their choice, despite clear evidence that this is unfair and, in some sports, unsafe for women, should have been clearly ruled out.” /11
“It cannot be right that a sport could continue to prioritise trans people’s wishes over fairness and safety for women.” /12
“The Sports Councils have put forward an option that is fair and inclusive for everyone in sport: an Open category for all alongside a fair and safe female sex category. If sports really want to be maximally inclusive, that’s what they’ll do”. /13
“We now look forward to working with sports bodies to help them refresh their approach and choose the option put forward by the Sports Councils that ensures there is a place for everyone in sport.” /end
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British Kickboxing Council reveals itself as unprofessional and reckless with this knee jerk response to a serious report by UK sports councils. If this dodgy outfit gets tax payer funding from @SportEngland that needs an urgent review.
Sport Councils conducted hundreds of interviews. This is the first comprehensive assessment of the views concerning the impact of trans inclusion on others. /1
"Women from a BAME background argued that success in sport was perhaps a key opportunity to achieve in a Britain where they were discriminated against because of both their sex and their race, and this was just another example of how society did them a disservice" /2
"Many interviewees were exasperated that women’s sports had made great strides in terms of participation numbers in the last 20 years, often in the face of male indifference, but that now this was all to be put at risk." /3
To develop their trans participation guidance the sports councils have undertaken the most comprehensive and in-depth consultation to date. This is impressive and should be considered the gold standard approach /1
@sportscotland@Sport_England@uk_sport@SportNINet@sportwales 166 one-to-one interviews were conducted. 98 had a minimum of 20 years involvement in organised sport such as athlete, coach, sports physician, medical specialist, sports scientist, inclusion officer, volunteer, official. Nearly all had an extensive lived experience in sport /2
@sportscotland@Sport_England@uk_sport@SportNINet@sportwales "10% of those approached declined the invitation, variously saying that the topic was “too toxic” or not wanting to “put their head above the parapet”. Some were senior people within British sport or *held advocacy roles for transgender inclusion*" /3
They evaluated the impact of their guidelines on ALL NINE protected characteristics. Not just gender reassignment, but all other equality strand too. This is the way to do it right. /2
RACE: "some respondents reported that the inclusion of transgender people in sport could be a barrier to participation for some people from ethnically diverse
communities. Therefore, race is referenced in the guidance as a consideration" /3
Sports must now make a choice – they either prioritise the views of male-born people in female sport at the expense of women and girls. Or they can protect the future of women’s sport by looking for new ways to increase participation of transwomen. /1
The Sports Councils have put forward an option that is fair and inclusive for everyone in sport: an Open category for all alongside a fair and safe female sex category. If sports really want to be maximally inclusive, that’s what they’ll do. /2 equalityinsport.org/resources/inde…
Remember, trans people can already play sport. They are not excluded from sport. Most sports already have an open category and trans people can and do play there. /3
"Transgender inclusion in sport could be improved by adding 'open' and 'universal' categories to male and female ones, new guidance says." /1 bbc.co.uk/sport/58732146
"for many sports, the inclusion of transgender people, fairness and safety **cannot co-exist** in a single competitive model". /2
"testosterone suppression is unlikely to guarantee fairness between transgender women and natal females in gender-affected sports" and there are "retained differences in strength, stamina and physique between the average woman compared with the average transgender woman" /3