Tag Archives: Transgender

News

The Rugby Football Union recommends a ban on transgender women in female rugby

The Rugby Football Union has suggested that transgender women not be allowed to play female rugby. Players whose sex was “designated male at birth” should not be permitted to compete in the women’s division, according to the regulating organization.

The Rugby Football Union has recommended a ban on transgender women playing in women's matches

Following World Rugby’s position, the suggestions were made in response to the recent exclusion of “male-to-female (transwomen) players” from the women’s international rugby league.

On July 29, the RFU will vote on it.

The decision has come following a two-year review (pictured RFU CEO Bill Sweeney)

If the recommendations are approved by the vote, the governing body will alter its stance before the 2022–23 domestic contact rugby season in England.

The RFU started a two-year assessment of its existing policy in the fall of 2020. This evaluation includes a game-wide poll with over 11,000 replies, the consideration of scientific data, and consultation with other governing organizations of sports.

According to the review, there are physical disparities between persons whose sex was classified as male or female at birth and those whose sex was assigned as female.

The policy beforehand had seen the RFU allow some transgender women to play women's rugby on a case-by-case basis.

“This science provides the basis of the recommendation that the inclusion of trans people assigned male at birth in female contact rugby cannot be balanced against considerations of safety and fairness,” said a statement by the RFU.

“The recommendation is that until such time as new science is available, a precautionary approach is appropriate to ensure fair competition and safety of all competitors.”

The RFU stated that it has gotten in touch with players who identified as transgender women “to offer its support in continuing to urge them to continue in the sport.”

The body also said players whose sex was recorded as female at birth can play in men's rugby

The world governing organization for swimming, FINA, agreed in June to exclude transgender athletes from taking part in elite women’s events if they had experienced any aspect of male puberty.

A few weeks later, British Triathlon established the first transgender athletes-only “open” division in a British sport.

The RFU's decision aligns the body with World Rugby, who have very similar guidelines

The RFU has suggested that players whose gender was listed as female at birth be permitted to compete in the male division “provided they submit their written consent and a risk assessment is conducted.”

Source: bbc.com

News

Mother of Ivy League swimmer who raced against trans athlete Lia Thomas slams her ‘Woman of the Year’ award nomination

The mother of an Ivy League swimmer who lost to transgender UPenn athlete Lia Thomas in a competition is criticizing the school for making the nomination, calling it “humiliating and devastating.”

On “Fox & Friends First” on Monday, Kim Jones expressed her disgust at the nomination. She claimed that the institution was implying that “women don’t matter.”

Kim Jones, mother of an Ivy League swimmer who competed against UPenn transgender athlete Lia Thomas, appeared on 'Fox & Friends First' and slammed the university for nominating Thomas for the NCAA 'Woman of the Year' award

‘[The message is] they’re not even worthy of dignity and comfort in their locker rooms,’ Jones said. ‘And this nomination is just the embodiment of that message. It’s really frustrating to understand where the current NCAA and Ivy League and especially Penn’s stance is on the value of women in modern society.’

Thomas, 22, was one of two students nominated for the Woman of the Year Award from the National College Athletics Association.

Jones, a former All-American tennis player whose daughter played Thomas, is the most recent person to come forward and express their displeasure.

Thomas, 22, was named by UPenn as one of two students nominated for the National College Athletics' Association's Woman of the Year Award

Others who spoke out in response to Thomas’ nomination for the prestigious prize included tennis icon Martina Navratilova, University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, and one of the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year contenders.

The Independent Council on Women’s Sports, which Marshi Smith, a former NCAA swimming champion and co-founder of, co-founded, joined Jones on Fox Monday and said, “NCAA needs to address core truths.”

‘There is a biological difference between men and women,’ she continued. ‘And if we can’t agree that that foundational truth is a reality, then how can we protect our girls and women?’ 

Marshi Smith, a former NCAA champion swimmer, joined Kim Jones on 'Fox & Friends First' and said that the 'NCAA needs to acknowledge fundamental truths'

According to Jones, college athletes prepare for many hours only to have their efforts “dismissed” when biological males are given an unfair physical advantage in competition.

‘That’s what all that effort, all those hours, all that hard work, and the journey that was supposed to be so empowering and fulfilling has been reduced to something that people think is a sideshow. It’s really frustrating,’ she said.

The nomination, according to Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, is “another slap in the face to women” and “NCAA has made this award meaningless,” she wrote on Twitter..’ 

‘[T]his is yet another slap in the face to women. First a female national title and now nominated for the pinnacle award in collegiate athletics. The NCAA has made this award worthless,’ Gaines wrote.

Riley Gaines (pictured right), University of Kentucky swimmer and one of 2022's NCAA Woman of the Year nominees, is speaking out after the University of Pennsylvania nominated transgender swimmer Lia Thomas (pictured left) for the prestigious award

Gaines and Thomas famously tied for fifth place in the women’s 200-meter NCAA finals in March, but as there was only one trophy, the event’s administrators informed Gaines that Thomas would receive it while hers would be mailed later.

Gaines wasn’t the only athlete who expressed her fury on Twitter.

Gaines and Thomas famously tied for 5th place in the women's 200-meter NCAA championships in March, but as there was only one trophy, Gaines was told by organizers that the trophy would be given to Thomas, while hers would be mailed at a later time

The woman with the most major titles in women’s tennis during the Open Era, Navratilova, also mocked the candidacy on Twitter.

‘Not enough fabulous biological women athletes, NCAA?!? What is wrong with you?!!!!!!!?’ she tweeted.

Other athletes and commentators also commented.

Former NCAA champion swimmer Marshi Smith tweeted: ‘How many women’s awards are we willing to surrender? The Ivy League choosing a male as their nominee is doubling down on their anti-woman campaign.’

Thomas, who won the 500-yard freestyle final in March 2022, is the first known transgender woman to win an NCAA swimming championship

Physics teacher Debbie Hayton, who is herself, transgender, was critical and said: ‘I urge Thomas to do what is right and respectfully decline the nomination, and possibly generate some respect.’

Commentators away from the world of sports also weighed in, with podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey writing: ‘NCAA dubs ‘Lia’ Thomas ‘woman’ of the year. You have a laugh at the audacity of our current dystopia. Rest assured that the harder they push this stuff, the harder the pendulum will swing back. And it will swing back—sooner than you think.’ 

Thomas’ nomination by UPenn has continued in spite of repeated criticism from other athletes and their families regarding her achievement.

Shame on them for nominating Lia Thomas,’ a conservative college organization Young America’s Foundation wrote on Twitter. ‘UPenn must have forgotten that in order to qualify for the NCAA Woman of the Year award, one must actually be a woman.

The governing organization of swimming, FINA, has since prohibited transgender athletes from competing in elite competitions.

The school is being 'shamed' for nominating her. A conservative college organization Young America's Foundation wrote on Twitter that there is 'nothing brave about competing against people whom you have a biological advantage over'

To compete, athletes had to have undergone a shift before the age of 12.

FINA also suggested that transgender athletes compete in an “open” division.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

News

Trans swimmer Lia Thomas has been nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year award

The University of Pennsylvania athlete shot to fame earlier this year when she became the first transgender NCAA champion in Division I history. Thomas has garnered international attention over the past year thanks to her world-record efforts in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events.

Lia Thomas finishes the 200 yard Freestyle for the University of Pennsylvania at an Ivy League swim meet against Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., on Jan. 22, 2022.

Thomas not only broke records for the NCAA season but also dominated the Ivy League women’s championships, taking first place in the 100-, 200-, and 500-yard freestyle events. She also made history by becoming the first trans athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship.

The prize winner won’t be revealed until January 2023 (until the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics has made a decision).

However, Thomas stated during an appearance with Good Morning America that even her nomination would face opposition.

Trans Swimming Champion Lia Thomas Is Nominated For Woman Of The Year

She pre-emptively responded to her critics: “I don’t need anybody’s permission to be myself. You can’t go halfway and be like, ‘I support trans people but only to a certain point.

“If you support transwomen and they’ve met all the NCAA requirements, I don’t know if you can say something like that. Trans women are not a threat to women’s sport,” the young athlete added.

The remarks come at a time when the success of the University of Pennsylvania students has been a hot subject in the sporting world. Some detractors contend that she shouldn’t be permitted to compete against cisgender women because of the unfair biological advantage that comes with being born a man.

Trans swimmer Lia Thomas nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year award

Thomas continued by claiming that she has actually lost muscle mass as a result of the change. Despite worries about how hormone replacement treatment might affect her physique and her ability to participate in her sport, Thomas started it in 2019 after coming out to her friends and family.

After a year of hormone replacement medication, Thomas was allowed to join the women’s swim team in compliance with NCAA regulations.

The swimmer was nominated for the NCAA’s Woman of the Year award by her college as a show of defiance against any such criticism Thomas and her accomplishments have received.

NCAA’s Woman of the Year award recognizes “female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in their community, in athletics, and in academics throughout their college careers.”

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year award by Penn | PhillyVoice

The athlete also declared her intention to take part in the 2024 Olympics. Thomas, however, would not be able to participate as things stand since transgender athletes who did not transition before they reached puberty are no longer permitted to compete, according to FINA, the world swimming governing body.

Source: vt.co

News

Fertility Expert says that Transgender surgery is ‘mutilation’ and sex ‘can’t be changed’

Gender reassignment procedures are considered to be “body mutilation,” according to a renowned fertility expert. Doctor and Labour’s life peer Robert Winston claimed that only gender can be changed and that people cannot change their sex because it is “genetically determined.”

We can change our gender, he declared on TalkTV’s Piers Morgan Uncensored. We can accomplish that by mutilating ourselves.  “We can remove bits of our body and change our shape and so on but you can’t change your sex because that is embedded in your genes in every cell of your body.”

He further added that “it becomes a problem because of course occasionally you end up with somebody who is born a male but then wants to become a female, so you can have that mutilating operation”.

Dr. Winston reopened the discussion of transgender athletes partaking in sport by posing the controversial question after making inflammatory comments.

<p>Lord Winston of Hammersmith, said people cannot change their sex because it is “genetically determined” </p>

He said: “But then the question is, should they be allowed to compete in sport because they still have some male characteristics that will give them an edge over other women?

“That is where the problem really lies. And social behavior in different situations- using toilets, using bathrooms- which understandably worry women.”

His comments were responded to by India Willoughby, Britain’s first transgender newsreader.

She tweeted her disappointment at the scientist’s opinions.

“They can mutilate their body … ‘ @ProfRWinston. What a horrendous thing to say. [Trans] people have existed since time in memorial [sic], children as young as 3 know they’re the opposite sex. Every culture. Natural occurring. Your [view] seems to be anatomy rather than brain dictates who we are.”

Fertility expert Professor Robert Winston says 'we cannot escape our genetics' in trans debate

One Twitter user replied to the tweet, saying: “Is that same language utilized for those who make the decision to have cosmetic surgery on the body [sic] part? Or what about cosmetic dental work ? Is that “mutilation” too. Or just emotive language dressed up to cover transphobia?”

British Triathlon announced last week that there would be a new open category for men, transgender women, and non-binary athletes following months of political discussion regarding transgender athletes partaking in sporting events.

Source: independent.co.uk

News, Stories

Canadian Family held a Gender Reveal Party For Their Eight-Year-Old Trans Daughter

Ella Scott told her parents she didn’t feel like a boy when she was just six years old. Her parents Nikki, 38, and Graham, 39, initially believed their daughter was going through a phase, but they soon realized she was adamant about embracing her trans identity.

Ella Scott, now, following her transition

In order to inform Ella’s extended family of her journey, the family chose to celebrate her eighth birthday with a “gender reveal” party and photo session.

‘With Ella it’s like she always knew but we just didn’t,’ mum Nikki said.

“We always knew she was a little different when she was little, as she was always friends with girls and played with Frozen toys.

Mum Nikki with daughter Ella

“I have two other children, Ella’s brothers, two cisgender boys who play rough but Ella never wanted to join in. 

“At age six she wanted to start wearing girls’ clothes like skirts and dresses.

Ella (pictured here holding her youngest sibling Regan, now five) is the eldest of three

“I must admit with Ella being our first child and that being all we knew, I thought it might just be a phase. One Halloween we decided to let Ella pick her own costume and she wanted to be a cat so she wore a skirt and cat ears.

“Neither of us knew what the right thing to do was so we showed Ella books of trans people because she didn’t have the words to say it. 

Ella Scott, now, following her transition

“Eventually, she did. She said, ‘I’m not a boy, I don’t feel like this inside.'”

“We were so confused,” Nikki admitted, “asking ourselves if she was too young and were we doing the right thing. 

“We wanted to ensure what we were doing wasn’t harmful or damaging.

“We arranged a consultation with a psychologist from our local child mental health center, Reach Out Centre for Kids, and they ensured we were doing the right thing.

The mum said that Ella's family and friends have since been really supportive. Credit: Caters

“From here we let Ella take the lead. In grade one she started using she/her pronouns, eventually growing her hair longer and wearing girls’ clothing.

“Ella did get upset when her hair wasn’t growing fast but apart from that she is a very happy girl with an upbeat character and has been throughout her journey.”

The mother reported that Ella’s friends and family have since shown a lot of support.

“Grade one was confusing as some peers were saying she wasn’t a girl,” Nikki said. “However, we chose to move Ella and the rest of our kids.

“Ella’s new school was a perfect place for her to explore who herself further and her teachers have been so supportive too. She has a great group of friends around her as well.

Canadian family throws gender reveal party for transgender daughter - S Chronicles

“Family gave her the most supporting and loving reaction as expected when she came out. 

“It’s her family, her home and that means her safe space.”

In order to encourage other parents who are going through a similar scenario, Nikki has also created a social media page where she shares Ella’s transition journey.

She said: “When she transitioned I found loads of resources for youths but not for kids. In most local clinics the rules are that you need to start puberty before you can get in and that means Ella wouldn’t qualify.

Ella Scott, pictured before her transition,  always preferred friendships with girls and playing with Frozen toys to rough and tumble with her brother

“I want parents to feel they have a safe space because we didn’t have anyone else us to help at the start of our journey.

“My page is to raise awareness of transgender kids and a supportive community for the parents.”

Source: unilad.co