Female athletes suffer from bad policies

Disc golfer makes a career ending move to save women’s sport

Abigail Wilson made a brave and strong statement at a disc golf tournament in Tennessee against trans opponent Natalie Ryan over the weekend. 

A video posted online shows Wilson stepping up to take her shot before turning to onlookers and shouting: 'Females must be protected in our division. This is unfair. I refuse to play.'

Fans applauded the move as she gathered her gear and walked out. 

Wilson made a post on Instagram explaining her position.

Today I refused to play at the Music City Open. Females deserve to have their gender protected division be protected. This is unfair. I have worked so hard to get to this point to play on the DGPT, but the sacrifice of my career and my hard work is worth it if it means I can make a difference for other women, daughters, nieces, and the future of our sport. If you feel how wrong it is to have biological males be competing in female protected divisions in sports, now is the time to speak up and stand your ground.

I took this stand today because I was having anxiety about playing with the openly trans player on tour because of the planned protests for this year and the threats of violence at the event last year. After speaking with a member of the DGPT staff yesterday they made it clear they would be unwilling to change me to an earlier tee time when regarding my fears of safety on the course. They assured me that there would be bag checks, police, and security at the event. Upon arriving this morning there was no security or police presence, I was also allowed entry even though I did not have my credentials. There were zero security precautions.

Today I most likely ended my career and that is okay because this is bigger than me.

It is an utter disgrace that female athletes are forced to self exclude, or be forced out of women’s competitions because some males insist they are entitled to participate. No male should be permitted in female divisions, it negates the division to do so.

Meanwhile in the UK 2 males wound up in the final of a women’s pool competition. Women's pool tournament championship features 2 transgender players after beating female competition

Harriet Haynes and Lucy Smith went toe-to-toe in the Ultimate Pool Women's Pro Series Event 2 at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan.

Both competitors defeated four female opponents each to get to the championship bout.

Women are being disadvantaged, humiliated and trampled upon for the sake of these males who wish they were women. They are male and can participate in male, open or mixed divisions. 

Last week a female fencer refused to compete against a male and was penalised. In Sydney when female soccer teams forfeit against women’s teams that have males they are threatened with penalties. Telling women they should boycott simply doesn’t work. These associations need to be shamed into changing their policies so that women and girls have a safe, fair and dignified playing field.