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Save Womens Sport Australasia has launched a parliamentary petition that requests Sport NZ extend its consultation on their ‘Draft Guiding Principles for the Participation of Transgender Players in Sport’ to all sporting associations, clubs and their stakeholders around New Zealand, so those that are impacted by the guidelines can provide feedback before they are finalised.

Save Womens Sport Australasia is part of an international coalition of women's organisations, athletes, and supporters of women in sport who assert that male athletes should not compete in female sports. They are looking to be supported in their efforts to keep the female sports category open only to biological girls and women.

Sport NZ has released their Draft Guiding Principles for the Participation of Transgender Players in Sport which will form the foundation for the transgender policy development for all sports in NZ.

Save Womens Sport Australasia do not support these draft guidelines, which they state “ignore all research on the performance advantage males have over females, even after testosterone reduction. The inclusion of transwomen in female sport has been prioritised over fairness, participation, and the health, safety and wellbeing of girls and women.

“Studies show that people who participate meaningfully in sport have better mental and physical health than their peers who don’t – and teens who identify as transgender are at a significantly greater mental health risk than their peers. We believe it’s a worthy goal to try to accommodate transgender’s desire to compete and a more open consultation may identify some better solutions for the participation of transgender players in sport. “

Save Womens Sport Australasia claim that Sport NZ’s consultation process is currently closed to mainly academics, government departments and rainbow organisations and are asking for those interested to sign and share the petition with friends and family.

The petition closes on 9th of June allowing Save Womens Sport Australasia sufficient time to present it to Parliament before the Sport NZ consultation closes on 21st June. 

For more information on Save Womens Sport Australasia go to savewomenssport.com/

Image courtesy of Save Womens Sport Australasia

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