Latest news with #transwomen
Telegraph
a day ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Red Roses players back ‘Ruck You' transgender v biological female sevens match
Red Roses players have voiced their support for a rugby match that saw a team of trans women play against a side of biological females. The 'Ruck You' match took place in Oslo to challenge the perception that trans women have physical advantages over biological women. The game began with seven trans women playing against seven former female internationals, before players from both teams mixed to protest against the sport's ban on transgender women. The match finished 34-7, with a post on the event's social media feed claiming the team of trans women only scored their try after 'one pivotal change.. When trans women and cis women mixed teams and came together.' The event, which was organised by former England prop Sasha Acheson, was also supported by past and present players from Wales and Scotland. Meg Jones and Poppy Cleall were among the current Red Roses players who sent messages of support that were shared on the event's social media feed ahead of the match on June 1. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rugby For All - THE Ruck You Match 😉💥 (@the_ruckyou_match) Jones, one of England's standout players in recent seasons, said: 'I'm supporting the Ruck You match because this game is built on women of all shapes and sizes, different backgrounds, different stories and I know sport has the power to make this change. On June 1, hopefully we get to see the change we want to see in this world.' Cleall, who has 66 caps for the Red Roses, said: 'I support the Ruck You match. Rugby is an incredible sport. It's incredible because it's inclusive, communities come together and any shape, any size can play it. 'That's why I love rugby and that's why I hope rugby continues to be that safe space for people, that place where anyone can feel like they can come to and be supported. Teamwork is so vital in rugby and this is an opportunity for me to say, 'I have your back.'' In 2020, World Rugby became the first international sports federation to ban trans women at elite level, citing 'significant' safety concerns. The body's decision was based on scientific data which showed 'at least a 20-30 per cent greater risk' of injury risk factors when a female player is tackled by someone who has gone through male puberty. Despite this data, the body said it was up to individual member unions to decide whether to enforce the policy at grassroots level. The global governing body did not comment on the 'Ruck You' match when approached by Telegraph Sport. Two players who were named in the transgender team line-up in Oslo were Julie Ann Curtis and Alix Fitzgerald, who became ineligible to play female community rugby in England when the Rugby Football Union voted to ban trans women from full-contact women's rugby union in 2022. At the time, there were believed to be six transgender women playing in the female community game. The RFU did not comment on English players' involvement in the 'Ruck You' match when approached by Telegraph Sport. The 'Ruck You' match is believed to be the first of its kind staged at the International Gay Rugby Cup, which describes itself as Europe's largest inclusive rugby tournament, and was supported by several women internationals. USA international Alycia Washington was part of the biological female team and flew to Oslo hours after winning France's premier club competition, Elite 1 Feminine league, with Bordeaux over the weekend. 'If you're wondering why I flew [to Oslo] for one 7s game, it's because people in my community had their rugby careers stolen from them by a ban on trans athletes,' Washington, a former Worcester Warriors player, wrote on social media. 'I believe they deserve to play and it was an honor [sic] to give them one more game.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alycia Washington (@afro_lycia) Several sports governing bodies have banned transgender women in the wake of the landmark Supreme Court ruling on April 16 that a legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. The England and Wales Cricket Board banned transgender women from competing in all levels of women's cricket on May 2, while England Netball also changed its participation guidelines by banning transgender women from its female category. From September, the body will recognise three distinct gender participation categories: female, male and mixed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
FA ban on trans women in women's football starts
Transgender women are no longer able to play in women's football in England after new Football Association rules came into effect. The FA initially amended its rules on 11 April, applying stricter eligibility criteria for transgender women to continue playing in women's football at all levels. However, following the UK Supreme Court's ruling on 16 April that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex, the FA scrapped that policy and announced on 1 May that only those born biologically female are permitted to play from 1 June. "This is a complex subject, and our position has always been that if there was a material change in law, science, or the operation of the policy in grassroots football then we would review it and change it if necessary," the FA said. The FA has offered those players banned from competing free therapy with Sporting Chance - a charity that provides sportspeople with mental health support. What does the 'definition of a woman' ruling mean for sport? Two opposing views on football's transgender ban SFA bans trans women competing in women's football The FA said: "We understand that this will be difficult for people who simply want to play the game they love in the gender by which they identify, and we are contacting the registered transgender women currently playing to explain the changes and how they can continue to stay involved in the game." At the time the ban was announced, the FA said there were fewer than 30 transgender women registered among millions of amateur players. There are no registered transgender women in the professional game across the Home Nations. The Scottish FA also announced it was banning transgender women from women's football in Scotland. Under amended rules announced on 11 April, the FA said transgender women could continue to participate in women's football provided they met certain criteria. They would have to prove via medical records that their testosterone levels had been below prescribed levels for at least the past 12 months, and provide a record of hormone therapy and an annual review of treatment. A new formal process, which would involve a "match observation" by an FA official, would give the FA "ultimate discretion" on a case-by-case basis. BBC Sport has seen a letter sent by the FA to transgender players affected by the ban. As well as the offer of "free, fully confidential online talking therapy", the FA said it hopes to have mixed gender football available from the 2026-27 season and even suggested players move into other areas of the game. "You might be willing to consider moving your enjoyment of affiliated football into coaching or being a match official," the letter said. Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns for campaign group Sex Matters, said the ruling was "overdue" and that the previous policy was "nonsensical". Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, who has been vocal on the issue of transgender women in women's sport, said on X: "This is great news for the safety and fairness of all our girls and women in football. Should never have been allowed in the first place. Now every sport must follow suit." Campaign group Women's Rights Network said: "We are pleased that the FA has finally seen the light. But it shouldn't have been such a hard fight to get here." Asked what Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer thought of transgender women being banned from women's sport, his spokesman said the government had "been clear that biology matters when it comes to women's sport and that everyone should be compliant with the law". He said the government would "continue to work to make sure that women and girls across the country can enjoy sports and we will continue to support bodies to protect the integrity, safety and fairness of the game". He said it was the responsibility of sporting bodies to set their own rules. Natalie Washington, campaign lead for Football vs Transphobia, said transgender women are now likely to give up football. "The people I know that are talking about this are saying, 'Well, that's it for football for me'," she said. "Most people clearly don't feel that they can go and play in the men's game for reasons of safety, for reasons of comfort." Pride Sports, which runs the Football vs Transphobia campaign, said there is no "football-specific peer-reviewed research or evidence that shows the existing policies constitute a safety risk". Lord David Triesman, former chairman of the FA, said there should be "consequences for the most senior FA officers" who took the decision to previously allow transgender women in women's football. "The FA has finally seen sense. It would have been the utmost foolishness to disregard the Supreme Court," he said. Anti-discrimination group Kick it Out said: "Now is the time to show solidarity with the trans community and remind ourselves that football brings people together and is often a space for belonging, connection, and joy. "The recent Supreme Court ruling and the FA's decision to change its policy will have far-reaching consequences, not only for the people we support but for our friends, families, team-mates and wider communities. "Transphobic abuse - on the pitch, in the stands and online - is real and rising." The FA was the first major governing sporting body to amend its transgender eligibility criteria following the Supreme Court ruling. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) banned transgender women from competing in all levels of women's cricket with immediate effect on 2 May. The ECB had previously banned transgender women from elite domestic cricket. England Netball also changed its guidelines on 1 May by banning transgender women from its female category. Its new guidelines, which will apply from 1 September, recognise three distinct gender participation categories: female, male and mixed. The female category would be "exclusively for players born female, irrespective of their gender identity", while mixed netball will "serve as the sport's inclusive category, allowing players to complete under the gender with which they identify". The Ultimate Pool Group (UPG) - the professional body for eight-ball pool - banned transgender women from its female category in April. Other governing bodies, including the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), are reassessing their transgender eligibility criteria. Athletics, cycling and aquatics have implemented outright bans on transgender women taking part in women's events. In 2022, British Triathlon became the first British sporting body to establish an open category in which transgender athletes can compete. Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast Get football news sent straight to your phone
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
FA ban on trans women in women's football starts
Transgender women are no longer able to play in women's football in England after new Football Association rules came into effect. The FA initially amended its rules on 11 April, applying stricter eligibility criteria for transgender women to continue playing in women's football at all levels. However, following the UK Supreme Court's ruling on 16 April that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex, the FA scrapped that policy and announced on 1 May that only those born biologically female are permitted to play from 1 June. "This is a complex subject, and our position has always been that if there was a material change in law, science, or the operation of the policy in grassroots football then we would review it and change it if necessary," the FA said. The FA has offered those players banned from competing free therapy with Sporting Chance - a charity that provides sportspeople with mental health support. What does the 'definition of a woman' ruling mean for sport? Two opposing views on football's transgender ban SFA bans trans women competing in women's football The FA said: "We understand that this will be difficult for people who simply want to play the game they love in the gender by which they identify, and we are contacting the registered transgender women currently playing to explain the changes and how they can continue to stay involved in the game." At the time the ban was announced, the FA said there were fewer than 30 transgender women registered among millions of amateur players. There are no registered transgender women in the professional game across the Home Nations. The Scottish FA also announced it was banning transgender women from women's football in Scotland. Under amended rules announced on 11 April, the FA said transgender women could continue to participate in women's football provided they met certain criteria. They would have to prove via medical records that their testosterone levels had been below prescribed levels for at least the past 12 months, and provide a record of hormone therapy and an annual review of treatment. A new formal process, which would involve a "match observation" by an FA official, would give the FA "ultimate discretion" on a case-by-case basis. BBC Sport has seen a letter sent by the FA to transgender players affected by the ban. As well as the offer of "free, fully confidential online talking therapy", the FA said it hopes to have mixed gender football available from the 2026-27 season and even suggested players move into other areas of the game. "You might be willing to consider moving your enjoyment of affiliated football into coaching or being a match official," the letter said. Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns for campaign group Sex Matters, said the ruling was "overdue" and that the previous policy was "nonsensical". Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, who has been vocal on the issue of transgender women in women's sport, said on X: "This is great news for the safety and fairness of all our girls and women in football. Should never have been allowed in the first place. Now every sport must follow suit." Campaign group Women's Rights Network said: "We are pleased that the FA has finally seen the light. But it shouldn't have been such a hard fight to get here." Asked what Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer thought of transgender women being banned from women's sport, his spokesman said the government had "been clear that biology matters when it comes to women's sport and that everyone should be compliant with the law". He said the government would "continue to work to make sure that women and girls across the country can enjoy sports and we will continue to support bodies to protect the integrity, safety and fairness of the game". He said it was the responsibility of sporting bodies to set their own rules. Natalie Washington, campaign lead for Football vs Transphobia, said transgender women are now likely to give up football. "The people I know that are talking about this are saying, 'Well, that's it for football for me'," she said. "Most people clearly don't feel that they can go and play in the men's game for reasons of safety, for reasons of comfort." Pride Sports, which runs the Football vs Transphobia campaign, said there is no "football-specific peer-reviewed research or evidence that shows the existing policies constitute a safety risk". Lord David Triesman, former chairman of the FA, said there should be "consequences for the most senior FA officers" who took the decision to previously allow transgender women in women's football. "The FA has finally seen sense. It would have been the utmost foolishness to disregard the Supreme Court," he said. Anti-discrimination group Kick it Out said: "Now is the time to show solidarity with the trans community and remind ourselves that football brings people together and is often a space for belonging, connection, and joy. "The recent Supreme Court ruling and the FA's decision to change its policy will have far-reaching consequences, not only for the people we support but for our friends, families, team-mates and wider communities. "Transphobic abuse - on the pitch, in the stands and online - is real and rising." The FA was the first major governing sporting body to amend its transgender eligibility criteria following the Supreme Court ruling. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) banned transgender women from competing in all levels of women's cricket with immediate effect on 2 May. The ECB had previously banned transgender women from elite domestic cricket. England Netball also changed its guidelines on 1 May by banning transgender women from its female category. Its new guidelines, which will apply from 1 September, recognise three distinct gender participation categories: female, male and mixed. The female category would be "exclusively for players born female, irrespective of their gender identity", while mixed netball will "serve as the sport's inclusive category, allowing players to complete under the gender with which they identify". The Ultimate Pool Group (UPG) - the professional body for eight-ball pool - banned transgender women from its female category in April. Other governing bodies, including the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), are reassessing their transgender eligibility criteria. Athletics, cycling and aquatics have implemented outright bans on transgender women taking part in women's events. In 2022, British Triathlon became the first British sporting body to establish an open category in which transgender athletes can compete. Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast Get football news sent straight to your phone
Telegraph
3 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Witch ‘thrown out by Druids after being accused of transphobia'
A witch has claimed she was thrown off a Druid training course amid allegations that she was 'transphobic' in a row over women's rights. Angela Howard claimed she joined the British Druid Order (BDO) in 2020 to find 'spiritual healing' after being sexually assaulted by a trans woman. Ms Howard, 48, said she was later 'knighted' as a 'warrior princess' at Stonehenge and began training as a student 'bard', which is a division of modern Druidry. But after the Supreme Court ruled that transgender women were not legally women in April, Howard claimed she was banned from continuing her training and had her BDO membership revoked because she supported the exclusion of trans women from single-sex spaces for women. Ms Howard also claimed she was 'defamed' and branded 'transphobic' by members of the religious advocacy group the Pagan Federation. She responded to a post on the federation's official Facebook page entitled: 'Statement of Support for Trans People from the Pagan Federation'. The post states: 'Trans women are women, Trans men are men, and all non-binary genders are valid. This is not up for debate with the Pagan Federation.' 'I cannot safely wear a witch's hat in public' According to The Times, Ms Howard said she responded to this statement by commenting that there were situations in which women needed single-sex spaces, citing changing rooms, women's refuges and prisons. She referred to her own experience of being sexually assaulted by a trans woman. She claimed her comments were later deleted, and that she was blocked from viewing the contents of the Facebook page after she criticised an article describing the court ruling as 'a triumph for bigotry'. Shortly afterwards, Ms Howard claimed she was expelled from the site after a member of the Pagan Federation support team said she had been 'more unequivocally transphobic' in her comments. Ms Howard has now lodged a written complaint with the British Druid Order. In it, she pointed out that women and girls were the 'largest and most consistently oppressed group worldwide'. She added: 'Even here in the UK, I cannot safely wear a witch's hat in public without receiving threatening or fearful looks. 'It is profoundly ironic, then, that within modern Paganism and Druidry (movements that should be committed to liberation, healing and truth) we are witnessing a kind of spiritual witch-hunt against those who speak up for the rights, safety and dignity of women and girls.' In a second complaint to the Pagan Federation, she accused the charity of breaching its own code of conduct and the Equality Act 2010. She claimed that she had been 'penalised' for expressing her gender-critical beliefs. The Pagan Federation said in a statement: 'We have a robust complaints procedure, which is designed to ensure fairness and accountability across all aspects of Pagan Federation activities. The process is accessible by both members and non-members alike. 'We have a policy of not commenting on complaints made under our procedures, which may be ongoing. This is to ensure the fairness of the process and to protect all parties involved.' A spokesman for the British Druid Order said it had received a complaint that was being reviewed and had no further comment to make.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Labour 'could ban trans from all-female shortlists and delay women's conference' after court ruling on gender
Labour could ban trans women from all-women shortlists in the wake of the Supreme Court 's gender ruling. The party's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) is also poised to postpone the annual women's conference to avoid having to restrict attendance to biological women. The moves are in a paper due to be considered at a potentially stormy meeting later. The Supreme Court ruled last month that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex'. Labour had previously operated its 'positive action' measures on the basis of self-identification, allowing transgender women to take part. A leaked advice paper produced for the NEC meeting recommends postponing the women's conference on September 27 because 'there is a significant risk of legal challenge to the event as it currently operates'. It also cautioned that 'there may be protests, direct action and heightened security risks' if it goes ahead. That could carry a 'political risk' of overshadowing the party's showcase autumn conference which begins the following day. The recommendation in the paper is to postpone the women's conference pending a wider review of positive action measures. The paper also says the party should issue guidance to make clear that all-women shortlists can only apply to 'applicants who were biologically female at birth'. Labour did not use all-women shortlists at the last general election. It is understood Labour will respect the Supreme Court judgment and comply with statutory guidance when it is published. Ministers will consider the Equality and Human Rights Commission's code of practice when a draft is submitted by the body. The Labour for Trans Rights group, along with Pride in Labour and LGBT+ Labour's trans officer, Georgia Meadows, condemned the NEC paper and its recommendations. They said: 'It is a blatant attack on trans rights and is seemingly an attempt to isolate trans people even further within the Labour Party and the labour movement more widely.' The Labour Women's Declaration group, which backs 'sex-based rights', said cancelling the conference would be a 'knee-jerk reaction'. A spokeswoman told the LabourList website: 'We are shocked that hundreds of women in the Labour Party might be prevented from meeting at conference because the NEC would prefer to disadvantage all women rather than to exclude the very small number of trans-identified men who may wish to attend the women's conference.'
