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@fairplaywomen report just over a quarter of respondents polled answered ‘yes’in 2018 on whether transgender women should or should not be allowed in women’s sports. "By 2020 this dropped to just one in five respondents with a concomitant increase in the number of ‘no’s." >>>
Media coverage of trans identified men in women's sport has increased substantially in the past 2 years. Increased public awareness/knowledge has coincided with falling public support for the trans-inclusive rules adopted by the IOC in 2015 and all major sports governing bodies>>
”[T]he public .... distinguish between gender identity and biological sex, particularly in contexts such as sport where the latter is acknowledged as relevant". It is largely accepted that policies need to be based on an individual’s biological sex not preferred gender identity>>
c 25% of respondents consistently answered ‘don’t know’ or ‘prefer not to say’ to survey questions about transgender women, including about their inclusion in female sport. "This is unusually high. The norm for ‘sensitive’ questions is around 5% of respondents." >>>
Given that trans activists insist that only trans people can or should comment on trans lives, it’s possible that people felt unqualified to comment, or unwilling to risk appearing ‘transphobic’.
"Whatever the reason, many people are likely to feel that it’s inappropriate for them to have a view on these questions. This factor should be taken into account when assessing the popularity or otherwise for any policy on transgender inclusion." >>>
@fairplaywomen reports increased public concern and widespread support for single sex sports for women.
Have you joined the 200 organisations and 11k+ people who have signed the Women's Declaration on sports? https://www.womensdeclaration.com/en/ >>>
Have you joined the 200 organisations and 11k+ people who have signed the Women's Declaration on sports? https://www.womensdeclaration.com/en/ >>>
The UK Sports Councils have commissioned a detailed review of their own 2015 guidelines on transgender eligibility for domestic competitive sport & scientific evidence . A majority of UK sports governing bodies in the UK say their transgender inclusion rules are ‘under review’>>
Elite UK female rugby players share similar views to the general public. When surveyed confidentially, most wish to retain women’s sport for the female sex.
"[F]ew female athletes feel able to speak freely and safely about transgender inclusion in women’s sport. This is in stark contrast with the ease with which supporters of transgender inclusion can signal their views." >>>
"For example, an open petition against World Rugby’s new transgender eligibility guidelines containing a number of factual errors has been widely circulated across popular on-line rugby forums, gathering over 15,000 signatories and BBC news coverage." >>>
"..when @fairplaywomen asked to join the popular Facebook page Women’s Rugby Network in order to post information about the topic, our request was rejected. This was surprising considering the fact we had actually participated in the World Rugby transgender meeting itself." >>>
Women in the FB group Women’s Rugby Network said “I use that group for networking and recruiting for my team and I don’t want to risk getting kicked out of the group [for posting on TG]” and “I just can’t face the backlash and accusations of transphobia that I know would follow”>
@fairplaywomen note this asymmetry of opportunity severely distorts public understanding of the issues.
No female Rugby player, amateur or elite, spoken publicly to the media on the topic. This reluctance is understandable. Other sportswomen including Martina Navratilova, Sharron Davies and Kelly Holmes have been abused & threatened, sacked and/or lost sponsorship and paid work.>>>
60 sixty British Olympic medalists, world-class sportsmen and women, and leading scientists have written a private letter of concern to the IOC, asking them to suspend its transgender guidelines pending further scientific study and analysis. >>>
300+ current & former professional, Olympic & collegiate female athletes sent a private letter to the National College Athletic Association (NCAA), urging it ‘not to give into bullying tactics’ and to reject the call to boycott Idaho for passing the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act
The Idaho Fairness in Women’s Sports Act protects fair competition and athletic opportunities for women by ensuring that only female athletes compete in women’s sports. Worryingly, the names of all the women who signed the letter were leaked, putting individuals at risk.
Advocates for female athletes suffer abuse for speaking up. Senator Claire Chandler is being investigated under the Anti-Discrimination Act for her saying in parliament and in print that ‘Women’s sport was designed for the female sex and should remain so”. https://twitter.com/OkBiology/status/1302297685626683393?s=20
@fairplaywomen is routinely called transphobic, despite these accusations by trans activists being ruled as inaccurate when investigated by the press regulator @IpsoNews>>>
Even scientists like @fondofbeetles who have been asked by World Rugby to provide their scientific expertise on this topic are condemned in public and reported to their employers.>>>
"The risks associated with sharing views on this topic means that World Rugby and member Unions are unlikely to hear support from amateur players about the new transgender guidelines unless there are pro-active and trusted contact mechanisms in place.">>>
Players tell @fairplaywomen that no effective club outreach programme has been undertaken by @EnglandRugby to gather the views of female players and officials. @EnglandRugby or @WorldRugby haven't collected player feedback to inform their transgender eligibility guidelines>>>
"The truth is everyone knows that it’s wrong to let male people play women’s sport. We all know it’s unfair and unsafe and excludes women.
It’s common sense but no one is allowed to say it."
@fairplaywomen 9 August 2020
It’s common sense but no one is allowed to say it."
@fairplaywomen 9 August 2020
