This week, a soccer league in Australia made headlines around the world after five transgender women were allowed to participate in a recent women’s soccer tournament where they ultimately dominated the competition, won the tournament, and claimed a significant cash prize. And it sounds like the organizers of the tournament are standing by the decision to allow them to compete.
Despite criticism for allowing the players to compete in the tournament, Football New South Wales made it clear that they not only planned to stick with their policy, but they were proud of their inclusivity.
A spokesperson for Football NSW defended the decision to allow the five transgender players to participate in the tournament, saying that the organization takes “pride in being at the forefront of developing inclusive policies for the sport in Australia and operates within the existing legal framework, including anti-discrimination legislation.”
“Football NSW continues to align with Football Australia’s adoption of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Guidelines for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in sports, under which, community players are permitted to participate in Football on the basis of the gender with which they identify,” the spokesperson continued, according to The Daily Mail.
Needless to say, it’s clear that the league will continue allowing transgender athletes going forward.
