sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Australian Senator Wants To Ban Transgender Women From Playing In Female Sport

Australian Senator Wants To Ban Transgender Women From Playing In Female Sport

Tasmanian Senator Claire Chandler says she is looking at introducing a bill to ensure sporting clubs are allowed to host single-sex sport.

Anonymous

Anonymous

By Stewart Perrie

An Australian politician has revealed she wants to ban transgender women from being able to participate in female sport.

Tasmanian Senator Claire Chandler explained on her website she is looking at introducing a bill to ensure sporting clubs are allowed to host single-sex sport.

The term 'single-sex sport' has been used by those who have been campaigning against trans women to be included in teams catered to the gender of their choosing.

Proponents suggest that if a trans woman is playing in an all-female team then the group is technically mixed gendered.

Alamy

Senator Chandler said Australia's Sex Discrimination Act allows people to sue sporting codes, clubs and volunteers for discrimination if they offer single-sex women's sport.

This is something she wants to change.

The Tasmanian politician believes her bill will 'restore the rights of women and girls in sport' because 'single-sex sport for women and girls is a fundamental good for our society'.

"Single-sex sport for women and girls should not only be legal, it should be celebrated, promoted and encouraged at every level of sport," she wrote.

"Women's single-sex sport is not a privilege only for elite competitions, it's just as important at local level.

"Sporting clubs and codes shouldn't have to hire teams of lawyers, doctors and sport scientists to prove they can keep their women's sport's competitions and teams single-sex."

Senator Chandler insists that she isn't against trans women and girls, however she believes that female sports are under threat if they allow trans athletes.

Senator Claire Chandler/Facebook

"I continue to support trans people playing in sport - it's up to sporting codes to offer both single-sex sport for women and other options that support participation for everyone," she added.

In an accompanying Facebook post, the Senator pointed to the recent Tokyo Olympic Games and how a New Zealand weightlifter was the first transgender athlete to compete.

Laurel Hubbard made history went she entered the 2020 Games and even though she didn't walk away with a medal, it was heralded as a major moment for sport.

However, a landmark report released after the global competition ended explained how changes might need to be made in individual sports if they want to allow trans women.

The Sports Councils Equality Group (SCEG), which covers UK Sport, Sport England, Sport Wales, Sport Scotland and Sport Northern Ireland, released its findings after an 18-month investigation.

It ruled that trans athletes, fairness and safety cannot 'co-exist in a single competitive model'.

SCEG recommended introducing an 'open' category at competitions up to the national level for trans athletes to compete in instead of male or female.

Their guidance only covers community-level sport and doesn't apply to international, professional or elite sport.

Featured Image Credit: Senator Claire Chandler/Facebook/PA

Topics: SPORT, transgender athletes, Australia