Ladies Gaelic Football was developed by volunteers across Ireland to provide a safe forum for girls and women to play Gaelic football. The LGFA is a grassroots community organisation and it is vital that all levels within the organisation are consulted before policies are implemented that will impact our code. 

In February 2023, the LGFA introduced a transgender policy without a comprehensive consultation. The policy allows for males who identify as female to participate at ALL levels in Ladies Gaelic Football from the age of 12 and upwards. The LGFA has:

i)  Deviated from best practice,
ii) Ignored the scientific evidence,
iii) Failed to consult with all levels in the organisation,
iv) Contravened the association’s own code which ensures ‘safety and fairness for young girls and women.’

LGFA - OUT OF STEP
The LGFA is totally out of step with other comparable sporting organisations for women in both Ireland and the U.K. 

The UK’s Sports Council’s guidance in respect of transgender inclusion and the Sports Council’s review in 2021 found that,
“the inclusion of transgender people into female sport cannot be balanced regarding inclusion, fairness and safety in gender-affected sport where there is meaningful competition. This is due to retained differences in strength, stamina and physique between the average woman compared with the average transgender woman or non-binary person assigned male at birth, with or without testosterone suppression.”

Sport UK also found that ‘case by case’ assessment is “unlikely to be practical nor verifiable for entry into gender-affected sport.’ 

The IRFU abandoned its transgender policy which had a ‘case by case approach’ after reviewing medical and scientific evidence and guidance from World Rugby.

IGNORING SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE 

Marie Murphy, Professor of Exercise and Health at Ulster University's School of Sports Science, is one of 26 eminent academics who co-authored a paper, published in March 2024 in the Scandinavian Journal of Medical Science in Sports, which challenged the International Olympic Committee's assertion that there is 'no presumption of advantage' for trans-identifying males who participate in women's sport. 

Professor Murphy told the Derry News:

“Central to our paper is the diagram which illustrates that boys and men are at a physical advantage over girls and women, when it comes to anything that is matching physical attributes.

“That includes physical strength, physical endurance and muscle type and mass. Our diagram shows the actual percentage of difference.

“And since sport is played with our bodies, not with our minds or our identities, we have a sex category for a reason. Sport is played body against body. We don’t have an identity category, the same way as we don’t have a religious category or a category based on how we feel inside our heads.”

Here is the link to the full article:

https://www.derrynow.com/news/home/1467969/uu-professor-challenges-international-olympic-committee-to-protect-fairness-for-female-athletes.html

CHILD SAFEGUARDING

It is important to note that, in Ireland, under the Gender Recognition Act, a child cannot apply to change gender until the age of 16 or 17 with parental consent and medical testimonies. The policy introduced by the LGFA is permitting males to participate in ladies Gaelic football with young girls from the age of 12. However, girls are NOT permitted to play beyond the age of 12 in hurling or football at any level in the GAA due to the risks involved for girls and young women.

The LGFA, in response to concerns raised about private spaces for girls and young women, stated that, "All registered players have access to facilities” which means that biological males would have access to all facilities. It is vital that girls going through puberty and young women have access to intimate spaces such as showers, changing facilities and toilets.

LACK OF CONSULTATION
In 2023, the LGFA chief executive sent the details of the proposed policy to all LGFA county secretaries with the following instruction:
“The proposed policy and supporting documentation is NOT for circulation to clubs or members as it must first be approved and discussed by Central Council.”
 
At the Central Council meeting a few short weeks later, delegates were asked to vote on a policy that they had not discussed with the clubs, members or parents. This raises a serious issue in respect of the governance of the LGFA. There was no comprehensive consultation in respect of a significant policy with ramifications for child safeguarding, safety and fair play.

URGENT REVIEW NOW! 
The LGFA has committed to a review in 2025. It is vital that women’s voices are heard and that playing members, coaches, referees and parents have an opportunity to give their views on a policy that has a serious impact on the code.

Support our campaign to protect women and girls in sport. Please sign, share and raise this issue with your clubs to ensure that there is an urgent review of this policy. 

Go raibh maith agaibh,

Gaels for Fair Play