Thread by @fairplaywomen

THREAD: Thank you to Lord Triesman @DavidTriesman for raising an oral question about women's sport in the House of Lords today /1

@DavidTriesman Baroness Noakes @1SVN hits the nail on the head. The only way to have safe and fair sport for ALL is to have two categories. An open category for everyone and one reserved for natal women only /2

@DavidTriesman @1SVN The minister replies "the evidence is clear that there are retained advantages in strength, stamina and physique for the average transgender woman, with or without testosterone suppression. It's not proved to be the silver bullet many hoped it would be". /3

@DavidTriesman @1SVN Lord Cashman can't criticise any of the legitimate, evidence-based concerns around trans participation in women's sport in his question /3

"I do not refer to the debate around this question"

@DavidTriesman @1SVN But he uses the opportunity once again to imply that women's concerns are rooted in transphobia

"but I am deeply concerned about the public debate around trans issues and the continuous depiction of them as a threat" /4

@DavidTriesman @1SVN Lord Hunt hits back with a great statement

"we should ensure there is a way to have full, open and tolerant debate. And those organisations who accuse people who raise legitimate issues as being transphobic should desist" /5

@DavidTriesman @1SVN @LordPhilofBrum gets to the heart of the matter. He asks the minister if he will encourage sports bodies to have courage to actually take on board what is in this guidance. /6

@DavidTriesman @1SVN @LordPhilofBrum Baroness Wilcox "Does the minister support [the sports councils] message to create novel or modified versions of some sports to increase inclusion"

Yes: Sports should think in innovative ways to ensure nobody is left out, that might include novel or modified versions. /7

@DavidTriesman @1SVN @LordPhilofBrum Baroness Fox @Fox_Claire asks the minister to meet with @fairplaywomen who have "detailed proposals for including trans people in sport without disadvantaging woman, and who are courageous enough to open up the debate and not close it down". /8

@DavidTriesman @1SVN @LordPhilofBrum @Fox_Claire Baroness Hoey @CatharineHoey ends by emphasising the importance of fair competition and the irreversible biological differences between people who have been through male puberty compared to female puberty /9

@DavidTriesman @1SVN @LordPhilofBrum @Fox_Claire @CatharineHoey The minister's answers have been clear the government now agrees that TW inclusion in women's sport cannot guarantee fair competition.

But he reiterates the old myth that somehow trans inclusion and fairness for women can be 'balanced'. It cannot. Sports must make a choice /10

@DavidTriesman @1SVN @LordPhilofBrum @Fox_Claire @CatharineHoey Either, a sport must prioritise fairness and safety for women and girls and looks for alternative ways to welcome and include transwomen in sport. /11

@DavidTriesman @1SVN @LordPhilofBrum @Fox_Claire @CatharineHoey Or, a sport must stand by its policy to prioritise TW inclusion in the category of their choice, and be clear that their sport will be unfair and unsafe for women and girls.

No more hiding behind phrases like 'balance'. Sports face a tough choice, but a choice it is /12

@DavidTriesman @1SVN @LordPhilofBrum @Fox_Claire @CatharineHoey We hope the minister now extends an invitation for experts @asknic and @FondOfBeetles to brief him on the issues in a meeting.

Inclusion is sport is important - but giving everyone what they want isn't inclusive if it excludes others.

Read more here /13

fairplayforwomen.com/making-sport-m…