Women's cycling - major sponsor pulls out as policies are not 'trans inclusive'

[Xoxoxoxoxoxox]

Helen joice has just put this up on twitter.
A new major sponsor is being sought to ensure that the 6th Women’s CiCLE Classic and 8th Junior Men’s edition of the race can go ahead as planned, following the decision of longstanding sponsor Pete Stanton to withdraw his sponsorship of the races...due to the decision to not include trans atheletes.

• A man tries to use his money to force women to accept transwomen in women's races.

I hadn't thought about the trans activism behind sponsorships deals that fund women's sport that must go on behind the scenes but here is an example laid bare. The men's races are not under threat just the women's races of course.

www.velouk.net/2022/04/12/news-sponsors-needed-for-womens-junior-cicle-classic/.

I think this will backfire. Fairness in women’s sport is a popular cause, only likely to get more popular. The unfairness inherent in funding disparities has always been the ‘gotcha’ point for trans activists: you know the thing - ‘Why do you care about a tiny minority of TW when ALL women are still disadvantaged by lesser funding and pay than men?’

Now we are being told ‘Include males or don’t get paid.’

If it’s the Pete Stanton on twitter he’s a they/them and I assume he’s influenced his employers

Apologies they is a they/them

Twas ever thus. He (sorry, they) who pays the piper...

Typical more do what I say or else from men to women, and yet we are supposed to believe that trans rights activists aren't male rights activists

It was 15 grand. Hope they can get another sponsor

Well it's a shitty decision but maybe he shouldn't have had so much power in the first place in women's cycling. It gives rise to the potential for conflicts of interest, being so involved at so many levels including financial.

OK, dammit. That's bad news. His views are his own I guess.

Happy to contribute to a crowdfunder for specific events but the scale of funding for

Reading about exclusionary/hate events in cycling it's interesting that the ones I read about are all men being homophobic. Pippa York did not come out as transgender until years after her cycling career in men's races. Cycling weekly said in 2021 ' of the 978 pro men's races, none are gay [i.e. out]'. But there is no differentiation between the abusively homophobic exclusion of gay or gender diverse men from cycling, and the requirement for female cyclists to hand over whatever they have to males and smile about it.

Sorry - the scale of funding for women's cycling needs corporate involvement.

@littlbrowndog

It was 15 grand. Hope they can get another sponsor

They could crowd fund for that little...I'd donate

Really?? 15k?

I'd definitely donate to that.

Me too. If someone sets it up I will throw in some. The TRA can get to fuck.

I'd donate. Would hate this sort of inspiration to be ceded to yet another male 'woman'.

“Now, ladies, if you can’t play nicely and let everyone have a go there’ll be no cycling at all for you.”

Pretty much what this says to me.

He's a sex-denier.

We have no time for people like that.

Also up for a crowdfunder. 15k to keep a women's sport for women? A no brainer and would be easy. We will build it back on fivers and tenners if needs be.

Good riddance.

If he'll only fund women to race if they centre males?

He isn't someone who should be funding women's racing.

Women's cycling has had a circular problem for years - less exposure = fewer sponsorship opportunities = less exposure and round and round we go.
Hence relying on individual donors who can therefore have more influence over races than they should.
Agree with others - for this race, for £15,000, we could crowdfund that. There'd be publicity in there too, for the race and for the sunlight of "this never happens", wouldn't there.

Rich males weaponising their money to force women to do as they're told.

Maybe someone should ask ik can you imagine the rage if she sponsored it…

I'd contribute, too.

I’d contribute. Sponsored by the vipers of Mumsnet FWR.

I would crowdfund too.

Sponsored by the vipers of Mumsnet FWR. hell yes 🤣

Isn't this blackmail?
Surely you sponsor the event because you're committed to women's sport?

Has this person now also tarnished the idea of other corporates/individuals sponsoring women's sport?

Shows how deep the pit goes wrt undue influence of TRAs.

Dispicable.

I'd be happy to donate to any crowdfunder for women's cycling. Nothing that women have collectively gained has been easy - from domestic violence shelters, our rights in law, political representation and our own sports.

We have done it before and we can do it again. TRAs / MRAs don't know the value of hard work and actual marginalisation. Everything they have has been handed to them on a plate - hence the shrieking tantrums and bullying and threats of violence when things don't go their way. They aren't used to being told no.

As Elaine Miller said, when women get angry we channel our rage into constructive ways, rather than destructive ways which is the hallmark of male violence and aggression. Women cyclists deserve their own sport. One that doesn't include males.