Meanwhile, in the Australian election …

[TheSandgroper]

www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-15/trans-women-in-sport-politicised-and-weaponised/100989438

No mention of just saying “TWAW” being all that is needed. No mention of invasion of the change rooms.

I could go on.

Totally agree @Helleofabore - if they just read one international newspaper they would see the issue more clearly.

Yes ozgirl I think Katherine is being attacked by people who are not even aware of the issues. They are still only seeing things in slices and we know this is such a huge interconnected umbrella of issues.

Denton’s playbook is very much at play there, particularly since same sex marriage took so long.

That’s exactly what it is. Sadly the media have done the old trick of “Deves wants trans people out of sports” when clearly the issues are so different to that.

I’m seeing things said on Facebook sites that were said on here a few years ago (it’s a small number, trans suicide etc) and it’s like people just haven’t stopped to think where self ID leads.
I guess we’re lucky in a way that (so far) men like Danielle Muscato etc haven’t made their mark here, but that does mean that people are taking longer to peak.

There was someone on a Facebook site I was on today even saying that once someone has medically transitioned, there are hardly any biological differences between men and women. I mean, do you read? Are you able to like, see things with your eyes?
And then at the same time she’s saying that trans women should be taking part in women’s sport but when I pointed out that most trans women had NOT medically transitioned, she was strangely silent apart from parroting “twaw” like a moron.

Deves has taken a real kicking in the papers but is hanging in there and Morrison has come out with a bit more support today.

Where comments are allowed there does seem to be evidence that some people are backing her on sport.

I suspect that the “quiet majority” are totally supportive of keeping sports single sex because they have children of their own, understand the concept of fairness or are women and don’t want to compete against men.

Australia really is behind where the UK is so it is hard to watch it. But Katherine has jumped straight in with the sports issue.

It may jump start it to leap forward and to avoid 'no debate' as much. However, it is a long long road.

I hope Katherine is OK. I see she's deleted her Twitter account and there appears to be a fake account set up which had a link to a gofund me which has now been closed. The k ives are really out for her.

The NSW state premier has backed her in a leaked message and the PM has taken a swing at those trying to cancel her for speaking out saying Aussies are ‘getting fed up of walking on eggshells’ for fear of upsetting people.

Those that tried to have her deselected have had to back down quite embarrassingly.

Shes on the front page of the Australian and the telegraph. The SMH are sadly full on smear but overall, she’s still in there.

Thank's to Scomo's "captain's pick" a lot of light is being shone on this issue this election. I caught a part of a discussion on our local ABC radio driving to work this morning:

www.abc.net.au/radio/canberra/programs/mornings/mornings/13839916

(Naturally very pro-transwomen in women's sports! The discussion starts about six minutes in.)

Which leads to the front page of The Australian which holds the opposite point of view:

twitter.com/Bernard_Lane/status/1516560297062203394?cxt=HHwWhIDUrcPj84sqAAAA

... And back to the ABC, where the news hammered Katherine Deves's "transphobia" yet again.

I have to say - kudos to SBS, this was very good. They got very civil debate but it really made those appealing only to the emotional 'if I didn't compete as a woman I would have died' look as they are - males using females to female sportswomen's detriment.

And it is good to see Prof David Handelsman (Uni of Sydney) being so absolutely clear on this. It left Harper no where to go on it without Harper appearing to ignore the medical & scientific realities.

I know so many women who agree with her but are too afraid to say anything publically - I include myself in this to my shame. It will destroy my career and open me and my family up to so much abuse.

The hardest part is the 'strange bedfellows' situation. I can't vote Liberal, I can't vote Labor, I sure as hell can't vote Green (even though I agree with them on almost everything else).

I know Kath, I know how strong she is, but she is the first really to stick her head above the parapet and it is brutal and terrifying to watch.

I wish her all the best. You have to be made of seriously strong stuff to withstand such an onslaught.

Sall Grover talked to Glinner about the situation in Australia yesterday. As here, it's a top down movement that ordinary people just don't know about. The Denton's guidance will only get them so far.

I am away from home so will have plenty to catch up with next week. Nadia Mitsopoulos covered this on abc Perth on Tuesday so will include that. But Helen Staniland in her talk with Graeme Linehan the other week spoke about all the women who are donating a few dollars or pounds to the various go fund me’s because it’s all they can do. I was very touched by that so will be putting $5 in an envelope and sending it to Katharine Deves to help keep her going.

I'm in the UK, but this article popped up in my news feed. I was shocked at the blatant lies!....
www.smh.com.au/sport/majority-of-female-athletes-support-the-inclusion-of-transgender-women-20220419-p5aehx.html

@Helleofabore bwhat should I search for to find the sbs piece? The fin review has covered it today and yesterday, fairly clinical pieces on the politics of it- whoever said it above was spot on. Paywalled so I can’t share. Today’s Aaron Patrick says they didn’t put her in there to win, but to gain traction in other electorates. But, moderate libs are not helped by this angle and that’s part of the reason they are coming out against. Portrayed matt kean as focussed on a future leadership tilt, see screenshot.
unfortunately the candidate put forward and replaced by Deves was a born deaf man. Caveat I don’t know his policies, but if they aren’t terrible I hope they find a seat for him, government and workplaces everywhere could do with more disabled people.
article finished by saying Deves is banned from speaking (not sure how that applies to campaigning) so don’t expect to hear a lot more ‘controversy’ from her!

time

Does this link below not work for you? It is on YouTube for international viewing. It is the SBS Insight program. Otherwise, if you are in country, it should be on SBS on-demand from last night or two (not tonight obviously)

Thanks @Helleofabore I’m in country. I’ll try and look it up. A family member is staying who unfortunately would be extremely critical of my engaging on this topic so I need to find time.

Now this should have some impact!

wwos.nine.com.au/olympics/transgender-sport-emma-mckeon-laurel-hubbard-lia-thomas-katherine-deves-liberal-candidate-swimming/8e4dda67-6ec9-443d-8d3c-23a05f441c36

Sorry … that link is Emma McKeon saying no males in female sports!!!

well done Emma!!!

There is more support getting around.

www.spectator.com.au/2022/04/how-the-left-silence-women-starting-with-deves/

HM has offered to have a word with McKeon to correct the “misinformation” she is basing her views on….

As of lunchtime Friday 22/04, the poll is 98% of respondents against TW in female sport….

Warringah was always a blue ribbon conservative seat until Zali Steggle won it last time. I personally think it was more a case of the electorate wanting to get rid of Tony Abbot , rather than wanting Zali in. She did a lot of good work, she was a famous Olympian, so she was the attractive alternative to boring old Tony.

The trans debate is very little heard of in Australia - and any reporting about it in the UK is probably more to do with the fact that trans issues are a bigger deal and therefore more interesting to UK readers. The average Australian couldn't care less about trans people in sport unless it's the obvious "trans woman winning Olympics Gold " type of story.

Now Dawn Fraser supporting both Emma and Emily. I hope that more Olympians come forward. I imagine Kathy Freeman, Sally Pearson, Melinda Gainsford and Nova Peris joining Jane Fleming in support would make an impact.

Where are the women cricketers on this?

I mean each one coming forward is brave and I can certainly understand why others have not. And already there has been quicker support from these brave women than we have seen in the UK. I wonder at that. Less pressure? Or they have just seen enough of the very biased reporting ? Or they feel they are not cancellable in swimming?

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10739541/amp/Swimming-legend-Dawn-Fraser-joins-debate-transgender-athletes-sport.html

‘The average Australian couldn't care less about trans people in sport unless it's the obvious "trans woman winning Olympics Gold " type of story.’

the parents with girls in sport care, surely?