Lucy Zelic has launched an extraordinary tirade against trans women, with the former SBS host telling biological men to “stop pretending” to be women.
Zelic, 37, recently expressed opposition to the inclusion of a football team, Flying Bats FC, in a Football NSW competition, in which five of the players were born biological males.
“I believe strongly in protecting the integrity of sport,” she said, while insisting that she is “not transphobic.”
The presenter, who covered the FIFA World Cup for SBS, posted a 697-word statement on her X account on Tuesday, in which she stated that trans women will never be able to share the experience of biological women.
“If trans women were women, there would be no dispute about what a woman is because there is not, and should never be, a dispute about what a woman is,” she said.
Lucy Zelic attacks transgender women in an extraordinary attack on social networks
Zelic previously worked for Australian broadcaster SBS, but left the company in 2021.
‘The fact that this is the case is a huge stain on the timeline of our history and those responsible for silencing, judging and dismissing women for this should feel tremendously ashamed of themselves. They will not be forgotten.’
She went on to list the many traumatic experiences of a woman that she believes can never be experienced by those who have transitioned from male to female.
“Stop pretending you know what it feels like to go for a walk alone and feel your heart stop when you see a man, or a slow car approaching,” he said, among other examples.
An SBS spokesperson told WhatsNew2Day Australia that Zelic left the broadcaster in 2021.
Zelic’s post sparked a number of negative reactions from his followers, one of whom said: “It’s hard to see you go down this path.”
There were also a handful of responses supporting Zelic’s stance.
Sydney Mayor Clover Moore said last month that trans women “are some of the most vulnerable people in society” during the announcement of a new initiative to provide affordable accommodation in a highly sought-after area of the city.
“Trans women are some of the most vulnerable people in our society and often face rejection and isolation from their families of origin and the broader community,” she said in a statement posted on social media.
“Providing safe and affordable housing for trans women is essential to their well-being,” she said.
“We want everyone to feel confident in themselves.”
Harry Potter author JK Rowling has been an outspoken critic of the transgender movement and clashed with online activists over her strong views, sparking protests for her to be investigated under Scotland’s new hate crime rules.
Rowling was referred to police Scotland for referring to several transgender women, including activists, convicted prisoners and celebrities, as “men” in a series of tweets.
Police Scotland later confirmed that no action will be taken against the famous British writer after she defied the country’s new anti-hate legislation with that flood of messages.
On the Flying Bats official website, they state that they are “the largest LGBTQIA+ women’s and non-binary football club in the world.”
Club president Jennifer Peden told WhatsNew2Day Australia: “As a club, Flying Bats FC strongly champions inclusivity and we pride ourselves on safe, respectful and fair play, promoting a supportive community for players, officials and LGBTQIA+ supporters, and the significant physical, social and mental health benefits of participation in sport, especially for marginalized members of the LGBTQIA+ community. We are a club that values our cisgender and transgender players equally.
‘We strongly support the Australian Human Rights Commission’s guidelines for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in sport.
‘These guidelines, together with the Sex Discrimination Act, inform the gender inclusion policies of Football Australia, Football NSW and the North West Sydney Football Association at the community and grassroots level at which we play.
‘Trans women belong in the female competition because that is the gender they identify with. Trans women have played in the club for at least 20 years, at levels ranging from beginner to expert, just like our cis players.
“Our players are evaluated based on their ability and placed on the most appropriate team for their ability and experience level.”
