The decision by an Australian Football League (AFL) committee to allow transgender footballer Freya Golding to continue playing in a women's league has reignited calls for the creation of transgender-only sports leagues or for transgender athletes to participate in mixed-sex competitions.
Golding, who is transgender, was cleared to play for the Westminster Old Scholars in the Adelaide Footy League women's competition. This ruling followed duty-of-care complaints lodged by three rival clubs, though the AFL Gender Diversity Policy Committee determined that Golding's participation did not pose "unacceptable safety risks."
Stephanie Bastiaan, head of advocacy for Women's Forum Australia, stated that the decision showed "a disregard for the safety and fairness of female players" and suggested that rival teams might forfeit future matches. Bastiaan advocated for an urgent review of the AFL's community-level Gender Diversity Policy.
In response to the controversy, some have proposed that transgender athletes compete in separate leagues. Supporters argue this could protect existing women's competitions while providing a space for transgender athletes. However, transgender advocates express concerns that such leagues might face challenges in recruiting enough participants to be sustainable and could inadvertently lead to the outing of players.
Alternative solutions suggested include mixed-sex or open competitions, where athletes of all genders could compete together without adhering to sex-specific eligibility criteria. Proponents of this model believe it would safeguard sex-based women's sports while ensuring playing opportunities for everyone. Sall Grover, a women's rights campaigner, suggested that mixed-sex teams are a clear alternative, as all participants would consent to competing in an open environment. She also argued that men's teams should be more inclusive of transgender players to reduce the need for them to play in women's leagues.
Jillian Chalmers, a former masters footballer, has previously called for the AFL to consider an "inclusive" or "open" competition as another avenue for transgender players. Professional surfer Kelly Slater has also voiced support for a dedicated transgender division, suggesting it would resolve confusion surrounding eligibility in women's sports.
However, transgender athletes and advocacy groups view the proposal for separate leagues as a form of segregation rather than inclusion. Chris Mosier, an openly transgender athlete who competed in Olympic trials, has stated that policies should be based on fairness and inclusion, not on perceived risk. Similarly, Australian swimmer Madeleine Groves has defended the right of transgender individuals to participate in established sports competitions.
Concerns have also been raised about the feasibility of a transgender-only league. Social media commentary highlights the potential difficulty in finding enough transgender players of similar ages and abilities within a reasonable travel distance to form viable teams.
The Australian Human Rights Commission advises that sporting policies should aim to maximize transgender and gender-diverse participation while upholding equality, privacy, and freedom from discrimination.