Latest news with #genderdiversity
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
For Trans and Gender-Diverse People, Community Is a Verb (Exclusive)
It's a curious thing to come into yourself. Like a bodily homecoming – some truth you'd long forgotten – now recognized in the shimmer of a shop window, where you catch your reflection and feel a kick of excitement between your shoulder blades at the you who looks back, smiling. It's a curious thing to come into yourself, like a bodily homecoming – a returning that brings you so much joy – and to find that the more aligned and yourself you feel, the more hostile the world beyond your body becomes. There are myriad explanations for why people feel affronted by gender variance, and why trans and gender diverse communities – especially those who are racialized, and especially those who express femininity – are once again facing hatred that at best, tires and erodes the soul, and at worst, steals life through acts of depraved violence. But in a world that continues to insist on the expulsion of trans and gender diverse people not only from public life, but also from the public imagination, I am choosing to place my emphasis on the ways in which trans and gender diverse people insist on living. ! Two years ago, around a table at a dinner party in a friend's sharehouse, over full-bodied wine and empty plates still glistening with rich bolognese sauce, a friend of mine clinked their glass. We were packed like sardines into a living room that'd been rearranged to make way for foldout plastic tables that could accommodate of light from the candlesticks wedged into the necks of old wine bottles glinted in eyes and across cheeks. This friend who had quietened the group asked, when do you feel most free? Despite resonating in part with those who described feeling most free when they're on their own, devoid of attachment, I couldn't help but think of a party I'd recently been to during Pride where, for the first time, I'd taped my chest flat and taken to the dance floor without a shirt on, feeling the sun hooked into my shoulder blades. I remember how I'd realized, in that moment, that I feel most free when I am in attachment. Most free when I am bound to others. Because my friends keep talking about community, and what I think they really mean by this is freedom to feel into and fall into the arms of those willing to hold us. Freedom, in this sense, is being able to express yourself and be witnessed, relished, celebrated, called out, called in, held. I am most free when I am in connection, when I'm on a dance floor, or at a protest – arms linked – or in a cuddle puddle in the late afternoon or in the last hours before daybreak. I am most free when I am beholden to others. I am most free when a friend who's been recently evicted is snoring on my fold-out couch. Or when another friend knocks on my door, having come do my laundry while I'm nursing my broken ankle. Or when we're all together, cleaning out a friend's house in the wake of a devastating flood, cutting waterlogged furniture with a chainsaw into pieces that'll be light enough for us to carry out to the street. I am most free when I am in connection, because I know my liberation is bound up with yours. Once, I wrote the sentence: I find myself wondering, more and more, if being trans will always feel this humiliating. When I find this quote in an old journal, I think back to when I was young, when I was lean muscle and all limb, before my body swelled and became something like a shadow, outside and beyond, stalking the edge of me. Back in that beautiful before, when I first learned how to hold my breath through the pearlescent belly of a wave, bursting out its broken shoulder, into the light of day. I think about the boys I hung out with, in the back alleys of my youth, bombing hills so steep my heart got stuck in my throat. How once I got death wobbles and jumped off my skateboard and landed so hard on my left leg, I threw my pelvis out of place. How I thrashed my body, over and over, injury after injury, so that by the time I was 15 I had a file at the emergency department three inches thick. How maybe I thrashed my body to stop it changing. Or, maybe I just liked moving. That's how I describe being trans. For me, it's all about movement. The walking and the running and the flying and the swimming. Because, even now, I don't know where I'm going, only that I am going. It therefore makes sense to me that the people who've taught me community is a verb, are, first and foremost, my trans siblings. Learning community as a thing that is made through ongoing actions – housing friends, meal drops, carpooling, helping with rent, sharing work, information and resources, showing up to protests and direct actions in support of and in solidarity with all marginalized communities – is something my friends have taught me through their own ongoing doings. I've come to understand 'queer,' too, as a doing, predicated on its ongoing actions. 'Queer,' to me, is visionary and imaginative ways of caring that ultimately carves out space for futures in which all of us live. I consider myself especially indebted to the First Nations friends in my life where I live in what we now call'Australia' who, in the face of ongoing colonisation and systemic oppression, embody community as a way of being, as a way of moving, as a way of resisting, and as a way of surviving. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! I think of that quote again – I find myself wondering, more and more, if being trans will always feel this humiliating – as institutions render us illegible and illegal, and JK Rowling celebrates her losses with a cigar. And I take, instead, to the water with my friends, and we let the water carry what we can't, because it's in the water, with them, all of us together, that I swim through humiliation and learn humility. My lover glides up against my chest and I feel an explosion of futures being felt as I feel myself. I dive under the surface and open my eyes, even though the saltwater stings, just to watch my friends. They kick and glide through pillars of yellow light, and I grin and shake, because it feels so good to be in the water, swimming with these people who know, like I do, that our survival has always depended on our movement. I start to laugh underwater, and my love for them escapes me in bright blue bursts. Against all of it. I love, I love, I love! Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer , from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. A Language of Limbs by Dylin Hardcastle comes out June 3 and is available for preorder now, wherever books are sold. Read the original article on People
Independent Singapore
3 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
More women take seats on the board in Singapore's top 100 SGX-listed companies
Photo: Freepik/ (for illustration purposes only) SINGAPORE: Women now hold over a quarter (25.1%) of board seats at Singapore's top 100 Singapore Exchange (SGX)-listed companies, according to the Council for Board Diversity (CBD). This is more than three times the number of women on the board 10 years ago and higher than the global average (23.3%), as reported by Singapore Business Review. In 2024, 18.1% of board members in 615 companies listed on the SGX were women, more than double from just 8.1% ten years ago, while women held 34.3% of board seats across the government's 64 statutory boards, up 1.6 percentage points from 2023. Over the past six years, statutory boards have seen nearly a 50% rise in women directors, increasing from 23.3% at the end of 2018. This growth followed CBD's public-private-people strategy, supported by deepened board appointment guidance from the Public Service Division (PSD). Last year, women held 31.8% of board seats among the largest 100 institutions of a public character (IPC) after a 1.7 percentage point rise in 2023, thanks to new guidance from the Code of Governance for Charities and IPCs. Overall, all IPCs averaged 34.3%. See also Singapore stocks retreated on Friday morning—STI dropped 0.2% Directorship data over five years revealed that boards tend to be more gender-diverse in companies where women serve on nominating committees, particularly in smaller listed firms. /TISG Read also: Singapore women entrepreneurs find global success through Amazon Global Selling
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Gender-diverse Kiwi player removed from Victorian netball league
Gender-diverse Kiwi netballer Manawa Aranui has hit out at a competing club in Victoria after being removed from a league after complaints and 'safety concerns'. Photo: RNZ / Instagram A gender-diverse Kiwi netballer has labelled an opposition club in Australia "hypocrites" after being removed from a second senior women's netball league. Originally from Hamilton but now living in Melbourne, Manawa Aranui's removal came after club complaints and "safety concerns". Aranui hit out on social media after they and another gender-diverse player were deemed ineligible to play in the Riddells District Football Netball League (RDFNL) for the rest of the season due to their "superior stamina and physique". In a statement, the league said opposition clubs had threatened to boycott matches involving Aranui. According to Aranui's social media post, complaints made against them to the league came from the same club that had tried to recruit them. "The same club now publicly speaking out against me, bashing me, and attacking the trans/non-binary community in the media, is the very club whose head coach approached me to join you," they wrote. "Would this still be a conversation if I'd accepted the offer and played for you? Or is it only a problem now because we're on opposing teams?" Aranui denied claims they were "dangerous" and had "run full-speed into players and (knocked) them over", stating they had never been "warned, penalised, or reprimanded". The opposing club has been approached for comment. Teams in the RDFNL threatened to boycott matches in which the players competed because they felt "physically and mentally threatened on court". An RDFNL spokesperson said the league would continue to adopt Netball Victoria's gender and anti-discrimination policies, but said it had no choice but to look at what neighbouring leagues were doing. "We are also working very closely with some other leagues on a sub-section under the Netball Victoria Policy that gives our league the opportunity to be flexible," the spokesperson said. Netball Victoria's governing body's guidance to clubs confirms that players can be excluded from competitions when their "strength, stamina or physique of players is relevant". Photo: SANKA VIDANAGAMA The spokesperson said Netball Victoria had this month appointed an "external investigator" to look at the participation of the players. "The RDFNL are yet to receive further information on the external investigator and have had no communication from said person," the spokesperson said. Netball Victoria's gender diversity policy states that players are allowed to play "in accordance with their gender identity, irrespective of their legal sex classification". However, the governing body's guidance to clubs also confirms that players can be excluded from competitions when their "strength, stamina or physique of players is relevant". It was the second time Aranui had been deemed ineligible to play in a competition this year. The ABC said it understood Aranui was also excluded from the Ballarat Football Netball League (BFNL) in April to "protect the safety of all players". A statement from the league said it had deemed the player ineligible, and that they had previously played "with an all-male netball team and now identifies as gender diverse". The league said it sought legal advice that it could lawfully exclude the player from a sporting competition where "strength, stamina or physique of competitors is relevant". "We have tremendous empathy for the player involved and absolutely respect and support their personal choices and respect their right to privacy," the BFNL spokesperson said. "As a league we have significant responsibilities to protect the safety of all our 3600 players who participate in the competition, and we take these responsibilities extremely seriously." In 2024, World Netball banned transgender players from international competition with immediate effect under a new participation and inclusion policy. In a statement, Netball Victoria said it continued to support netballers of all backgrounds, including gender-diverse players. "Netball Victoria is not undertaking a broad review of safety related to transgender players but is undertaking a review of concerns raised at one affiliate competition," a spokesperson said. "When concerns about safety in any form are raised, Netball Victoria will and does undertake a review in the interests of the welfare of participants." Sporting administrator Peta Guy said each case needed to be judged on its specifics, especially in contact-heavy sports. "You have to be practical in these things, because you have to look at it from the specifics of the game," Guy said. "If you've got something where people have high impact, you know AFL, rugby or something like that, then you know size and strength really does matter. "The overriding principle is that no association wants to drive potential players away and at the same time, they've got to be completely aware of how decisions that they make impact their members, the players." Guy said when rules were set, there would be exceptions. "I think you've got to look at the fundamental principles, the health and wellbeing of the players and fairness," she said. "You address it quietly in the background, without making a big deal about it, without making a rule." Guy said there had been rules implemented on gender policy in England. "It's now having adverse consequences, particularly in an era where you have non-binary people," she said. "If you have a rule that then excludes them, then you're not doing your sport the best favour."
ABC News
6 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Gender-diverse players removed from Victorian netball leagues
A gender-diverse netballer has labelled an opposition club "hypocrites" after they were removed from a second senior women's netball league. Manawa Aranui's removal came after club complaints and "safety concerns". They hit out on social media after they and another gender-diverse player were deemed ineligible to play in the Riddells District Football Netball League (RDFNL) for the rest of the season due to their "superior stamina and physique". In a statement, the league said opposition clubs had threatened to boycott matches involving Aranui. According to Aranui's social media post, complaints made against them to the league came from the same club that had tried to recruit them. "The same club now publicly speaking out against me, bashing me, and attacking the trans/non-binary community in the media, is the very club whose head coach approached me to join you," they wrote. Aranui denied claims they were "dangerous" and had "run full-speed into players and (knocked) them over", stating they had never been "warned, penalised, or reprimanded". The opposing club has been approached for comment. Teams in the RDFNL threatened to boycott matches in which the players competed because they felt "physically and mentally threatened on court". An RDFNL spokesperson said the league would continue to adopt Netball Victoria's gender and anti-discrimination policies, but said it had no choice but to look at what neighbouring leagues were doing. "We are also working very closely with some other leagues on a sub-section under the Netball Victoria Policy that gives our league the opportunity to be flexible," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said Netball Victoria had this month appointed an "external investigator" to look at the participation of the players. "The RDFNL are yet to receive further information on the external investigator and have had no communication from said person," the spokesperson said. Netball Victoria's gender diversity policy states that players are allowed to play "in accordance with their gender identity, irrespective of their legal sex classification". However, the governing body's guidance to clubs also confirms that players can be excluded from competitions when their "strength, stamina or physique of players is relevant". It was the second time Aranui had been deemed ineligible to play in a competition this year. The ABC understands Aranui was also excluded from the Ballarat Football Netball League (BFNL) in April to "protect the safety of all players". A statement from the league said it had deemed the player ineligible, and that they had previously played "with an all-male netball team and now identifies as gender diverse". The league said it sought legal advice that it could lawfully exclude the player from a sporting competition where "strength, stamina or physique of competitors is relevant". "We have tremendous empathy for the player involved and absolutely respect and support their personal choices and respect their right to privacy," the BFNL spokesperson said. In 2024, World Netball banned transgender players from international competition with immediate effect under a new participation and inclusion policy. In a statement, Netball Victoria said it continued to support netballers of all backgrounds, including gender-diverse players. "When concerns about safety in any form are raised, Netball Victoria will and does undertake a review in the interests of the welfare of participants." Sporting administrator Peta Guy said each case needed to be judged on its specifics, especially in contact-heavy sports. "If you've got something where people have high impact, you know AFL, rugby or something like that, then you know size and strength really does matter. "The overriding principle is that no association wants to drive potential players away and at the same time, they've got to be completely aware of how decisions that they make impact their members, the players." Ms Guy said when rules were set, there would be exceptions. "I think you've got to look at the fundamental principles, the health and wellbeing of the players and fairness," she said. Ms Guy said there had been rules implemented on gender policy in England. "It's now having adverse consequences, particularly in an era where you have non-binary people," she said. "If you have a rule that then excludes them … then you're not doing your sport the best favour."
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Manawa Aranui: Furious trans netballer who was BANNED from playing hits back with bombshell claim about team that made boycott threat against her
One of the two trans netball stars who have been banned from playing in a Victorian league has lashed out at the decision and made a stunning claim about the rival team that threatened to boycott matches she played in. Manawa Aranui played men's netball at a high level before transitioning and playing for the Melton Central Football and Netball Club. Last week rival side Melton South declared its players 'do not feel safe' playing against Central's two trans players and threatned to boycott matches against the team. On Wednesday, the Riddell District Netball League (RDNL) announced the two Melton Central players have been banned from the remainder of this year's competition 'on the premise that both participants exhibit superior, stamina and physique over their competitors deeming Section 42 of the Sex Discrimination Act relevant'. That section of the act allows competitions to exclude gender-diverse players due to concerns about their 'strength, stamina or physique'. The statement drew a fiery response from Aranui on Facebook. 'I've sat quietly long enough while this narrative brewed and I've been dragged—publicly and without consent — into a conversation where both my character and identity have been attacked,' she wrote. 'This won't be a long novel — because frankly, these bigots don't deserve my time or energy ... Melton South Football Netball Club and your Netball Coordinator/players: you're entitled to your opinions, but let's clear some things up. 'Your head coach tried to recruit me to play for your club. Yes — YOUR HEAD COACH TRIED TO RECRUIT ME. 'The same club now publicly speaking out against me, bashing me, and attacking the trans/non-binary community in the media, is the very club whose head coach approached me to join you. (Read that again. Let it sink in.) #Hypocrites.' Aranui went on to ask if her gender identity would be an issue if she was playing for Melton South. 'You've played six quarters against me — AND we played all season last year along side each other for Glen Orden — suddenly NOW I'm 'dangerous'?' she continued. 'Apparently now, I run full-speed into players and knock them over? 'We have two umpires on the court to keep the game safe. If I had done what you claim, wouldn't I have been warned, penalised, or reprimanded? 'For the record: I haven't been cautioned once — not in this league, or any other I've played in. 'You're entitled to believe it's 'unfair' for cis women to compete against transgender women. That's your opinion. But the lies? They need to stop. 'You're not out here protecting women's sport. You're being malicious, using false narratives to mask your bigotry and personal agendas behind the guise of 'safeguarding women's spaces.' 'You've spread stories, targeted me, and enabled me to become the sole focus of online abuse and sideline harassment from other clubs and their supporters — right here, in a space where I come to play a sport I love. A place I come to laugh, sweat, compete, and find community. 'I hope you're proud of that. And I hope no child in your families ever has to endure what you've subjected me to.' Aranui also posted an image showing an exchange of text messages between her and an unnamed person who asked if she would be open to 'playing for us A grade next season' 'depending on the rules in RDFNL'. The RDNL's ban came shortly after a video surfaced showing Aranui knocking a rival player from the Romsey team to the ground when they collided a completely legal passage of play. Netball Victoria had previously confirmed it was investigating the issue by engaging an independent expert to assess the concerns raised by multiple players and clubs. Melton South's netball coordinator Melissa Dawson had told News Corp she would support her players if they chose to forfeit games over safety concerns. 'One of the players is six foot something – it's ridiculous,' she said. 'Netball Victoria needs to put the safety of biological females first.' Netball Victoria said it remains committed to inclusion and is following its gender diversity policy developed in consultation with Proud 2 Play and based on national sport inclusion guidelines. 'We support and welcome netballers of all backgrounds,' a spokesperson said. 'That includes gender diverse players who have rights under anti-discrimination laws.' Netball Victoria's 2018 bylaw change allows non-binary and transgender players to register and play in female competitions based on self-identified gender, not legal sex. The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) guidelines on the inclusion of transgender athletes state that sports must comply with the Sex Discrimination Act, which makes it unlawful to discriminate, harass or victimise people due to their sex or gender identity. There are exemptions for sports in which unfair advantages or safety risks can be objectively proven. The ASC states: 'All Australians should have the opportunity to be involved in sport and physical activity, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, ability, cultural background or ethnicity. 'It is important that sporting bodies, from local clubs through to national sporting organisations, reflect the diversity in the communities they are a part of, and that together, we ensure every person is treated with respect and dignity and protected from discrimination.' In May 2017, the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission released guidelines on trans and gender diverse inclusion in sport. They state that sporting organisations will be breaking the law under the Equal Opportunity Act if they exclude people from participating in a sporting activity, or refuse or fail to select them in a team, on the basis of their sex or gender identity. However, exceptions could apply 'if strength, stamina or physique is relevant'.
