News & Updates

Transgender Awareness In Sport Blog

Posted on 15 February 2024

Transgender Awareness Week takes place each year from 13^thto 19^th November leading up to Trans Day of Remembrance on 20^th November. In this blog we will be looking at Trans people in sport.

LGBT+ is an Umbrella term used to describe anyone who doesn’t identify as Heterosexual with L being for Lesbian, G for Gay, B for Bi-sexual, T for Trans and + for any other identities not included in LGBT. Transgender / Trans is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.

Trans people have always existed and always will exist, yet it wasn’t till the 1950’s that transitioning became medically possible in the United Kingdom.

Michael Dillon (1915-1962) was the first person in the world to transition from female-to-male through the use of hormones and gender affirming surgery with Roberta Cowell (1918-2011) being the person to transition from male to female. The 2021 Census was historic for LGBTQ+ people as it was the first time both sexual orientation and Trans status were included. From this information, 0.5% of the population (262,000 people in England and Wales) reported having a gender identity that is different from the one they were assigned at birth.

In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, ran in 2021 due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, Quinn (Canadian footballer) became the first out, transgender, non-binary athlete to compete and also win a gold medal in an Olympic Games and in 2023 the first transgender and non-binary footballer at a FIFA World Cup.

In 2021, UK Sports Councils Equality Group produced guidance for Transgender inclusion in domestic sport. In the document it stated that each sports National Governing Body (NGB) should use this framework and guidance to develop their own guidance for their sport.

British Triathlon issued a ban on “any athletes not assigned female at birth above the age of 12 from competing”. They created a new “open” category for anyone to enter which was a reversal of the 2018 policy which only allowed Trans athletes to compete once certain hormone levels had been met.

In July 2022 both Rugby Union and Rugby League banned Trans women from playing stating that: The policy only permits players to participate in the female category of the sport, “if the sex originally recorded at birth is female”.

The World Chess Federation known as FIDE, took the decision in 2023 to ban transgender women from participating in women’s competitions until “further analysis” can be made. This could take up to two years. Trans women will still be allowed to complete in the “open” category. FIDE stated that “change of gender is a change that has a significant impact on a player’s status.”

The power of sport can be massive. Lucy Clark states that “football saved her life.” In 2019/20 season she became the first Trans referee in the world. Her life revolved around football from an early age as a player, referee or manager. She now referees in The FA Women’s National League and at grassroots level in the men’s game. Lucy has donated items to the National Football Museum to help other Trans people get involved in the beautiful game.

“As for myself, as someone who has watched and played sports from a young age with a passion, the current trend of banning trans athletes from sports and even the demonising of those participating in grassroots sports is something that’s upset me and in some respect turned me away from the sports themselves, even to the point of not even watching them”.

L, Northern England 2023

Some guidance for supporting LGBT+ young people include:

Using pronouns when introducing yourself and on email signatures
Ask children and young people their pronouns, chosen name and how they would like to be referred to
Educate yourself on issues affecting the LGBT+ community – be an Ally
Language is key – don’t assume someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity
Create that safe inclusive space for the young person to be themselves
Coming out as LGBT+ isn’t a one-time thing, it’s a never ending process, every time you meet new people, start a new job etc you will do this again and again and it is a unique, different experience for all and can be every time you come out to someone new
Be able to provide local LGBTQ+ support group information
Celebrate LGBT+ calendar dates such as Pride Month in June or Trans Awareness week in November.

Who are the support organisations in your area?

Links for more information and support:

Derbyshire LGBT+: www.derbyshirelgbt.org.uk

Stonewall’s guide to supporting LGBT+ young people: www.stonewall.org.uk/sites/default/files/final_-_an_intro_to_supporting_lgbt_young_people_-_april2022.pdf

NSPCC Learning:

https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/safeguarding-child-protection/lgbtq-children-young-people

The Proud Trust:

www.theproudtrust.org/young-people/

Galop – UK LGBT+ Anti-Abuse charity:

www.galop.org.uk/get-help/children-young-peoplev

Salford LGBT+ Youth Group

www.instagram.com/salfordlgbtq_youthgroups/