Sports club trans policy

[wordshark]

My DD is keenly involved in a sport -- I won't say which in case it's identifying. I've namechanged for the same reason.

The minutes of a recent committee meeting have been circulated. Buried within it was the following item:

"Transgender
Need to think about how we deal with this
They need to be happy with the facilities
• They need to feel that they are comfortable in our
club.
Which squad do they [train] with?
Action: Receive guidance from [UK sports body] Question for
[UK sports body]- give us how we would accommodate them for
[games/competitions].
Action: Need to talk to the individual/parents about how
they want us to handle the situation."

What would you make of this? Obviously it's only a very vague outline but clearly there is a transgender person at the club and it must be a child because of the mention of the parents. I feel uneasy about a transchild (or transadult) using changing facilities and toilets of their "new gender" and I'm not sure the club is fully aware of all the implications, especially since all they mention is how welcome/comfortable the transperson feels -- nothing about how others might feel about competing against/changing with someone of the opposite sex.

Any thoughts? Incidentally, DD is unaware of any transchild, so maybe they are in a different age group.

I suggest you contact Dr Nic Williams at Fair Play for Women and read their website if you haven't already done so.. She is red hot on this and will maintain your anonymity.

fairplayforwomen.com/campaigns/sports-campaign/

Thanks. Good idea.

Looks like the committee aren't sure what to do either and are seeking advice! Perhaps you could share what you also find out?

I don't think it means there are trans people at the club, it might be that they are just making a policy for the future.

I would make sure you get together evidence and show it to them.

They should also be asking about the implications for the safety of that child and of the other children. If the child is playing/training with children of the opposite sex (ie with the gender they identify with) and they are either of average or above male size and strength, or average or below average female size and strength, someone could be at risk physically. This is why sport was always divided by sex. If nothing else you might risk umpires halting the game because of safety issues. Something which has apparently already happened in women's rugby.

Regardless of what you think of trans people in sport an issue relating to a particular child shouldn't be in minutes like this.

Or least they should remain confidential.

The Equality Act makes it clear that it is an acceptable exception to keep sports single sex. Making sports mixed sex would discriminate against women.
These links may help;

The Equality Act, Sports;
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/195

Gender Recognition Act 2004 - permitted exceptions, Sports;
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/7/section/19

''When discrimination is allowed in the provision of goods or services''
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/discrimination-in-the-provision-of-goods-and-services/discrimination-in-the-provision-of-goods-and-services1/goods-and-services-what-are-the-different-types-of-discrimination/what-doesn-t-count-as-unlawful-discrimination-in-goods-and-services/sport-when-discrimination-is-allowed-in-the-provision-of-goods-or-services/