This week, Australian journalist and former rugby player Peter FitzSimons went on a tirade against those who are speaking out about men in women’s sports and the need to reinstate single-sex sport for women and girls, calling them ‘purveyors of hate-bait’.
Our Head of Advocacy Stephanie Bastiaan called FitzSimons out on Sky News, saying:
"It is absolutely ridiculous that he is so out of touch that he would mock these women and the very real plight that they are fighting...He is trying to continue that culture of silencing people who oppose this ideology, and he will do it at all cost with no regard to the women and girls that he is impacting."
But we will not be silenced.
As Stephanie mentioned in her interview, this week, Isabella, a brave 17-year-old girl from Victoria, spoke out about a male athlete in her women’s netball competition, stating:
"My point was a 6'2 man with huge muscular arms and great broad shoulders, and I was really scared that I was going to get hurt.
“I couldn't say a thing when I felt their body rubbing against mine as they were trying to keep me away from the ring. I felt really violated and really let down.
“This is something women are now having to face at the same time as being discouraged from speaking up about it."
It is heartbreaking that our girls are being put in this unjust and dangerous position. But it is heartening that more and more women and girls are speaking out.
No matter how much the activists and their powerful friends may try to silence us, we are winning. Just this year:
- Netball Victoria launched a review into the safety risks trans-identified males pose to female players, and a major community Melbourne netball league banned two male players who identify as women from playing in the women’s competition
- World Boxing announced the implementation of mandatory sex testing, which must be complied with by national federations like Boxing Australia when entering their athletes into World Boxing competitions
- More English sporting bodies, such as women’s football and cricket, have updated their policies to restore single-sex sport after the UK Supreme Court ruled “sex” is biological
- New International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry has vowed to protect the women’s category and ensure Olympic competitions are single-sex
- A US Federal Court ruled to protect fairness, safety and privacy for women and girls by preserving single-sex sports, facilities and programs in educational institutions
- In Australia, more and more female athletes, parents, MPs and journalists have been reaching out to us, and have been speaking out against the inclusion of trans-identified males in women’s sport
But we can't stop until single-sex sport for women and girls is reinstated across Australia.
Biological sex differences matter in sport, and ignoring them negates the very purpose of establishing a separate female sporting category, namely, to provide a forum in which women and girls enjoy a sporting chance of success.
Women’s Forum Australia is an independent think tank that undertakes research, education and public policy advocacy on issues affecting women and girls, with a particular focus on addressing behaviours and practices that are harmful and abusive to them. We are a non-partisan, non-religious, tax-deductible charity. We do not receive any government funding and rely solely on donations to make an impact. Support our work today.
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