The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport has released an excellent report entitled ‘Transgender Women Athletes and Elite Sport: A Scientific Review’.
Along with the full report, you can download an executive summary, and a research summary and recommendations.
Key Findings
Key Biomedical Findings
Biological data are severely limited, and often methodologically flawed.
There is limited evidence regarding the impact of testosterone suppression (through, for example, gender-affirming hormone therapy or surgical gonad removal) on transgender women athletes’ performance.
Available evidence indicates trans women who have undergone testosterone suppression have no clear biological advantages over cis women in elite sport.
Key Sociocultural Findings
Biomedical studies are overvalued in sports policies in comparison to social sciences studies.
Policies that impact trans women’s participation in elite sport are the continuation of a long history of exclusion of women from competitive sport – an exclusion that resulted in the introduction of a ‘women’s’ category of sport in the first place.
Many trans “inclusion” sport policies use arbitrary bounds that are not evidence based.
Cissexism, transphobia, transmisogyny and overlapping systems of oppression need to be recognized and addressed for trans women to participate in elite sport.
Today Sport NZ released “Guiding Principles – for the inclusion of transgender people in community sport.”
We’re really happy to see that they did a great job of hearing what sports players, governing bodies, and transgender people want, and affirming that everyone should be able to play community sports.
It’s great to see clarity that trans people can play as their affirmed gender, and that there doesn’t need to be any extra barriers to this.
“Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa (Sport NZ) has developed these guiding principles to support the inclusion of transgender people in community sports. The principles are designed to help all community sporting codes and sports organisations (such as clubs, schools and other sporting bodies) to foster an environment where transgender people are welcome, accepted and comfortable to enjoy community sport.” – Sport NZ
We are very proud to be sponsoring trans woman Alice MacLachlan in the 2022 IORK New Zealand Karting Championships, and upcoming Kartsport NZ National Endurance Championships.
We want to say a huge congratulations on her new championship title as the 2022 IORK NZ Women’s Open champion!
Alice tells the story
“Around 50 of NZ’s top kart racers arrived in Nelson to fight for the national title in highly changeable weather conditions. The competition was predictably fierce, with the fastest and slowest drivers in most races separated by only around half a second per lap – all vying for one of the 12 slots on the grid for the winner-takes-all 100 lap finals.”
“My goal had been to be the first openly transgender driver to stand on a New Zealand national karting podium. And, well, mission accomplished. After taking a win and several podiums through the heats, I finished a hard-fought third place in the middle weight category final. It was a surreal feeling, having come so close on so many occasions in the past 15 years. But the result was quickly overshadowed in the best way possible, when I claimed my first ever NZ championship title in the Women’s Open!”
“Standing on the top step of the national women’s championship podium as a trans woman was… overwhelming, to say the least. Equally overwhelming was the genuine and enthusiastic support and cheers of the entire field. I must say I am very, very proud to be involved in a sport in which an openly transgender woman can win in the women’s category and receive not one hint of transphobic backlash.”
The final New Zealand championship event for the year, the Kartsport NZ National Endurance Championship, is on this weekend. It’s a team event, with 3 different drivers taking the wheel for each team over a 4-hour race.
She also qualified for the 2023 Karting World Championships in Belgium, so if you want to donate or sponsor her for the World Karting Championship, you can click here to find out how, or visit her GiveaLittle page here
Our new resource Camping for Beginners is the first in our new Sport and Recreation series. Camping can be fun and a great way to relax. Check out our tips for beginners here; be prepared, be safe, and have a great time.
Scroll down to keep reading, or use our PDF version.
Picking the right place to camp means thinking about location, how full a campground is likely to be on the day you arrive, the weather at that time of the year and what your gear can stand up to, and what your safety and accessibility needs are.
Think about proximity to bathrooms, cellphone coverage, drinking water.
Do you need a permit to camp there? Can you light a fire? You can find information from Department of Conservation, district councils, motor home associations, and social media groups for camping in Aotearoa.
Practice at Home
Practice setting up your tent at home or in a park nearby. Make sure you have all the pieces, it’s waterproof (including the groundsheet or floor), and everything works. If you’re bringing a cooker or other essential equipment – old or new – practice and test before you need it.
Pitching a Tent
Pitch your tent (or park) on level ground. Think about trees in the wind and falling branches or pine cones. If there could be a sudden downpour, will you be flooded out? In flooding, high winds, or other emergencies, how quickly can you pack up and leave?
Just Trans Stuff
For some of us, things like shaving, using bathrooms, and taking a shower can be extra difficult we’re sharing facilities with strangers. It may be an option to take a shower-tent and solar shower into your site, set up a table with a shaving mirror, and use ropes and flags as privacy screens. Having a bathroom area away from your social area and out of view from other campers can make camping a lot less stressful.
Plan to Eat
Cooking on a campfire requires dry wood, and using a camp cooker means taking a cooker and fuel with you. You’ll need a pot or pan, dishes, cutlery, and food that can be prepared easily with whatever equipment you have.
If you’re on foot, consider the weight of your food. If you can park a car near your campsite, then pre-prepared foods such as canned soup may be an option. Consider snacks, hot and cold drinks. Remember that some foods perish quickly without a chilly bin or ice box. Keep an eye on expiry dates. Ziplock bags keep chilled foods from contaminating each other.
Be Responsible
If you’re camping near others, try to give them some space, and keep the noise down at night. Remember to respect Papatūānuku as well – take only photos and leave only footprints. If you have animal companions with you, this applies to them as well.
Commonly Forgotten Items
Commonly forgotten items include insect repellent, sunscreen, a water bottle, a first aid kit, toiletries, a mirror, and lighting – a mix of solar and battery powered lights should see you through. You may like to take a comfortable chair, and eat at a folding table. Games, books, puzzles, and activities can also be a good idea.
Camping Checklist
Personal items
Comfy clothes, swimwear, dress ups. Safer sex supplies if needed. Cash. Tent. Bed roll/ airbed/ mattress/stretcher. Blankets, sheets/sleeping bag. Pillow. Ear plugs. Towels. Torch + battery, or cellphone + car charger. Vape charger. Power Bank/spare battery. Hormones or medications. Cupboard/food crate. Chilly bin. Personal kitchenware – plate/bowl/utensils.
Consumables
Water or large water container. Food. Bug spray. Sunscreen SPF 50+. First aid kit. Gas bottles for cooking. Firewood. Ice X 1 million. Kitchen wipes. Toiletries eg soap, sanitary products, wet wipes, extra T-paper.
Kitchen and Living
Kitchen /lounge gazebo. Kitchen bench. Kitchen table. Chairs. Solar candles/ lighting/safe fire torches. Clock (no cellphone reception). Ropes. Flags/privacy screen fabric. Falas/floor mats. Cookers. Gas bottles or cans. Dishwashing tub, dishwash liquid, Scrubber, Buckets, Tea towels (or wetwipes). Pots and pans. Chopping boards and sharp knives. Grater. Mixing/salad bowls. Coffee plunger. Can opener. Music speakers. Beanbags or camp chairs. Solar shower. Bicycle.
Foods that Last
Breakfast foods – cereal, small cartons of long-life or plant-based milks, milk powder, porridge, oatmeal, muesli, firm fruits, canned spagetti and baked beans.
Lunch foods – many types of crackers, small cans of fish, canned pre-cooked chicken or red meat, pre-packed tortillas, margarine and spreads, whole (rather than loose leaf) salad greens, cabbage, carrots, preserved meats such as salami, fresh eggs last over a month.
Dinner foods – dried pasta, rice, corn chips, fresh or dried-flake potatoes, dried peas, bottled or canned pasta sauce, dried mushrooms, herbs and spices, salt, cooking oil, pouches of sauce, soup grain mix, pre-made meals in cans or pouches (eg, pouches of curry or fried rice, canned soups).
Snacks – dried seaweed snacks, potato chips, muesli bars, small cartons of milk or plant-milk based protein drinks, dried fruit and nuts, pretzels, biscuits, confectionery.
Drinks – coffee, tea, herb tea, hot chocolate, powdered juice (eg. Raro), syrups and concentrates, drinking water and bottle.
Vinegar Hill Gay Camp
Many transgender and rainbow folks camp at Vinegar Hill near Hunterville every December over the summer holidays. Vinegar Hill Gay Camp is not a commercial event, it’s just a gathering of rainbow folks. Besides camp fees and a $10 contribution towards community events and stage hire for the New Years eve party, it’s free to attend. Find out more here.
