Hi everyone,
First things first: thanks all of us raising our voices and speaking out several Rugby Nations including USA Rugby, Rugby Canada, Rugby Australia, and New Zealand Rugby have opposed the ban to World Rugby!
However, our work is not done...
World Rugby is the first international sport to propose a strict ban of trans athletes. If this ban goes through it could lead to other international sports trying this same discriminatory tactic.
It also means the 2021 World Cup in New Zealand will potentially be the first openly anti-trans world sporting event. This goes against the core values of the global rugby community - Integrity, Passion, Discipline, Solidarity, and Respect.
Banning trans women does not solve the problem of women's safety in rugby and sport -- in fact, it creates greater inequity and discrimination. As women in sport, there are many times we’ve been made to feel unsafe, but sharing the pitch, field, or court with trans women is not one of them.
Ahead of the November vote on the policy, we invite you to join us on October 20th and send World Rugby a message that they should focus on the issues that undoubtedly harm women’s sports and keep #RugbyForAll. Stopping the ban here will help keep women’s sports accessible to ALL girls and women.
Option 1 (PHOTO):
Have someone take a picture of you holding a poster board or paper stating a reason you’ve felt unsafe as a women’s rugby player or athlete. Make sure the writing is large and legible.
Make sure to tag us wherever you share
IG: @rugbyforall.co; Twitter: @RugbyForAll; TikTok: @rugbyforall.co
Here are some examples of reasons:
I’ve felt unsafe as a woman in sport when:
- My team was forced to use a rusty scrum sled because that’s all we had.
- My team played a season without a coach because we couldn’t afford it.
- Members of our club made sexist/homophobic/racist comments during team events.
- I was sexually harassed by another member of our club.
- My right to play my sport was questioned because of the way I look.
- I found out my coach was sleeping with one of my teammates.
- We had an inexperienced ref who lost control of the match.
Post this with your photo on October 20th:
@WorldRugby has proposed an outright ban on the participation of trans women in women’s rugby on the basis of “safety” without providing conclusive evidence. This would make the 2021 @rugbyworldcup the first openly anti-trans world sporting event.
As women in sport, there are many times we’ve been made to feel unsafe, but sharing the pitch, field, or court with trans women is not one of them. Join @rugbyforall.co and share your own story about a time you’ve felt unsafe as a woman in sport to urge the World Rugby Council to vote no on a ban and keep #RugbyForAll. #TackleTransphobia #LetUsPlay #RugbyParaTodes
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Option 2 (VIDEO):
Share a 30-second (or less) story of a time when you’ve been made to feel unsafe as a woman in sport.
- Use the video template below with your teammates or by yourself. Make it personal using your own experiences and words.
- Everyone who participates will be asked to post on October 20.
Script template:
“As a women’s [insert sport] player, I’ve felt unsafe when [reason 1], when [reason 2], and when [reason 3]. I’ve felt unsafe when [reason 4].
But I have never felt unsafe sharing the pitch with trans women. I/We call on the World Rugby Council to focus on the things that undoubtedly harm women’s rugby, vote no on a ban, and keep Rugby For All.”
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Shooting notes:
Use vertical video, holding phone up and down
Make sure light source is in front of you, natural light is best
Minimize background noise
Make it your own, put it into your own words
Visuals: solo or group, video (speaking to camera or holding written reason)
Post this with your video on October 20th:
@WorldRugby has proposed an outright ban on the participation of trans women in women’s rugby on the basis of “safety” without providing conclusive evidence. This would make the 2021 @rugbyworldcup the first openly anti-trans world sporting event.
As women in sport, there are many times we’ve been made to feel unsafe, but sharing the pitch, field, or court with trans women is not one of them. Join @rugbyforall.co and share your own story about a time you’ve felt unsafe as a woman in sport to urge the World Rugby Council to vote no on a ban and keep #RugbyForAll. #TackleTransphobia #LetUsPlay #RugbyParaTodes
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The World Rugby Council is set to vote on this policy in November, which means we must act now. Please plan to release your post on October 20th. (If you can’t do the 20th, any time after would still work.) Thank you for speaking up and helping to keep #RugbyForAll.
With you,
The #RugbyForAll team