The harmonisation of International Women’s Day:
A day to recognise Women’s ongoing struggles but replaced with the back-patting of successful women, who don’t mind shutting the door on the other women left behind, or want to focus on other problems that affect them more.
I’ll post my thread later on.
I assure you, it won’t make every women happy.
Today being International Woman's Day, and considering the theme, I thought to use the opportunity to argue
'LGBTIQA+ Rights are Women's Rights.'
The basis of modern day understanding of 'universal human rights' comes from the ashes of the Great Wars - World War 1 and World War 2 - where 'exceptionalism' towards human rights were acknowledged as the fuel that spurred human emotions against each other to fuel the war machine. It's worth also reflecting on the poem 'First they came' by Pastor Martin Miemvöller as well.
Then actually read the United Nations Declaration of Universal Human Rights:
https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights
Fast forward to present day, despite the best efforts of rights advocacy and champions we have seen an escalation of anti-rights movements (paraded at Pro-rights movements) from various corners of the world, including Australia. But one movement, I will focus on today is the rights of transgender people. More specifically, transgender people in sports, and how 'Save Women's sports' movement has led to the deterioration of both transgender and cisgender women.
Sadly, the breach of rights of any minority group, whether they be a protected/unprotected category, is always underreported. Modern search engine algorithms can make finding examples even harder. Most complaints are anecdotal stories 'word of mouth' most commonly shared among members of minority groups, advocacy groups and academic experts, but occasionally there will be cases that attract the attention of journalists (citizen and professional) which are more accessible to the general public.
Here are some examples of stories that do reach written media:
-- US Federal lawsuit filed against transgender girls at Highschool track event. Media reporting at the time did not report that one of the cisgender complainants won against sued transgender girl at another event.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trans-girls-belong-on-girls-sports-teams/
-- Nine-year-old accused of being transgender at school sporting event. Accuser demands gender certification. Parent also allegedly called ''a genital mutilator, a groomer and a pedophile'
https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/06/13/trans-abuse-school-sports-kelowna-canada/
-- Swedish Footballers reveal that women's teams were forced to endure genitalia examinations at 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany
https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/06/14/sweden-world-cup-football-gential-checks-gender/
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(cont.)
When the rights of one minority group is deteriorated by exceptionalism, this will always affect the rights of other 'unrelated' minority groups as well - namely women, LGBTIQA+, neurodiverse people, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities. 'Mistaken identity' in rights discrimination is not new. World War 2 saw many tragic examples of people being lynched on the accusation of membership/identification with an offending minority group regardless of evidence. More recently in Australia during COVID-19, there were many stories from Asian-Australian communities faced with Sinophobia, including myself - a second generation Australian of Japanese heritage. And as I shared earlier, same for women's rights, with examples of how Transphobia deteriorates the rights of both women and transgender.
Trying to find a balance in facilitating the participation of Transgender athlete is understood as necessary between both Sporting Institutions and LBGTIQIA+ communities, but the Transphobia paraded as protecting women's rights is not the answer. The answer is in inclusion.
'LGBTIQA+ Rights are Women's Rights.'
Read more:
-- Sexuality and Gender perspectives on Sports Ethics by Clearinghouse for Sport
https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/kb/sexuality-and-gender-perspectives-on-sports-ethics
-- Resources for Safe and Inclusive Sport: Understanding our Diverse audiences - LGBTIQ+ Communities by Australian Institute of Sports https://www.sportaus.gov.au/integrity_in_sport/inclusive-sport/understanding-our-diverse-audiences/lgbtqi
-- Guidelines - Including transgender and gender diverse people in sport by Australian Human Rights Commission (2019) https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/lgbtiq/publications/guidelines-including-transgender-and-gender-diverse-people-sport
-- Get the Facts about Transgender & Non-Binary Athletes by Human Rights Campaign (2022)
https://www.hrc.org/resources/get-the-facts-about-transgender-non-binary-athletes
-- WSF Statement on State Bills Banning Transgender Youth Sport Participation by Women's Sports Foundation (2021) https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/media_statement/wsf-stands-up-for-racial-equality-embraces-all-humanity/
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Several other Instagram based channels of information I can suggest - comment, if you'd like to know.
But lastly would recommend reading:
-- From ‘reluctance’ to ‘exceptionalism’: The Australian approach to domestic implementation of human rights by Dianne Otto (2001)
https://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AltLawJl/2001/87.html
Fellow Australians, think it's time to end our habit of patting ourselves on the back for the achievements of distant past, and wake up to the face that while this is happen, those achievement are actually being unwound.
It's time to move forward again. To make sure that we can actually feel proud to be 'Australian', and that it's a country that everyone can laugh and enjoy.
(end.)
On reflection, of this ‘#LGBTQIA+ Rights is Women’s rights’ thread
… I thought I should address an important topic within the particular issue of sports.
Especially with regard to Competitive School Sports, Competitive community sports, and professional sports.
It’s the psychology and mental health maintenance in sports. This is particularly critical during the impressionable period of school sports. My concern is the well-intended but harm caused by ill-informed Parental/Supporter-guidance or coaching based on transphobia.
Psychology and mental health will make or break a sporting talent.
‘Talent’ is what will get a child or new-learner to take their first steps in a sport. But it’s their mindset and mentality that will set their fate.
A phobia-driven focus on sexuality and gender - as a matter of fact - is a belief that is likely cause cognitive dissonance that negatively affects performance AND distract an athlete from the actual challenges that affect their performance.
The actual challenges being ‘sense of Fun’, ‘Self-competition’, ‘Pursuit of Mastery’ among other things.
Parents/Supporters, if you genuinely want the best for your child or favourite athlete, don’t give in the emotions of hate against other people.
There has been plenty of research studying past Sporting greats, and the things that athletes really need for the foundation to achieve goals :
Check out Australian Institution of Sport, for starters on resources on sporting performance.
https://www.sportaus.gov.au/athlete_development/top_10_tips_for_parents
Ken S
