Senator Claire Chandler has waded into a transgender row, with the Liberal politician claiming the inclusion of biological men in women’s sport harms “justice for women.”
Women’s football team The Flying Bats have sparked controversy this year as their team, made up of five transgender women, dominated a pre-season tournament in Sydney.
The team won every game in the competition, including a 10-0 rout in which a trans player scored six goals.
His presence at the tournament sparked complaints from club officials and parents, while high-profile figures such as JK Rowling and Lucy Zelic also criticized his participation.
And Senator Chandler, who represents Tasmania, has voiced her opinion on the inclusion of transgender women in women’s sport, issuing a warning in parliament.
Senator Claire Chandler criticized the Flying Bats women’s soccer team
Posting a nearly five-minute video of her speech, Chander wrote on Twitter: “For the Flying Bats to field five men in a women’s football league is not an anomaly.
‘Watch as I show that it was an explicit order from the top of Australian sport that male intrusion into women’s community sport must take priority over justice for women, and women who oppose it must be punished.
“Australian women will not forget that when World Aquatics, World Athletics, World Rugby, World Netball, the ICC, the UCI and others stepped up to protect differentiated women’s sport, Australian sporting bodies openly lobbied against women and girls at the grassroots level, having the same protections.’
The tweet has been viewed 130,000 times, with mixed responses for and against Chandler’s opinion.
Zelic, who launched a tirade against trans women on social media last month, endorsed Chandler’s speech.
She tweeted in response: “While most of our politicians and CEOs hide in the shadows and threaten those who speak out, Claire Chandler stands up for her daughters, friends and mothers who deserve better.” This is what leadership looks like. This is a politician we can be proud of.”
On the Flying Bats official website, they state that they are “the largest LGBTQIA+ women’s and non-binary football club in the world.”
The team, made up of five transgender women, won a preseason tournament
Former SBS presenter Lucy Zelic publicly condemned the team
Club president Jennifer Peden told Daily Mail Australia last month: “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 , LGBTQIA+ officials and supporters. and the important 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 Football Australia, Football NSW and the North West Sydney Football Association’s gender inclusion policies 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.”
The Facebook group LGBTI Rights Australia posted a message congratulating the team shortly after winning the Beryl Ackroyd Cup and heavily criticized the team.
“Transgender women have been proudly part of the bats for 20 YEARS, but it took terf N@zi$ until this week to realize it,” the message read.
‘This underlines that the problem is not transgender athletes but the exploitation of sport for political gain.
‘Congratulations to Flying Bats Soccer Club who recently won the Beryl Ackroyd Cup! (And to all the transphobes who complain, we suggest you train a little harder.)’