Trans woman's bowls battle
Association accused of 'being in the dark ages' after refusing to allow Stella, 67, to compete
A TRANSGENDER woman has accused a bowls association of ‘being in the dark ages’ and having ‘archaic rules’ after being told she cannot play competitively until after she has had surgery.
Stella Moore, 67, pictured, who has lived as a woman for three years, has been left upset at the Portsmouth & District Women’s Bowls Association’s trans policy. She said: ‘It is a sport that has brought me happiness at a time when I have been very sad and depressed.’
The association has removed the policy from its website and said Bowls England was reviewing its transgender policy.
Stella is a member of Hayling Island Bowls Club, which wants her to play.
A TRANSGENDER woman has said a bowls association is ‘in the dark ages’ after they refused to allow her to play competitively until after surgery.
Stella Moore, from Hayling Island, has been a member of Hayling Island Bowls Club for nine months after building up the courage to take part in the sport she had always wanted to play.
But the 67-year-old, who has lived as a woman for three years, has been left deeply upset by Portsmouth & District Women’s Bowling Association as they refuse to let her play competitively.
The organisation told her she wouldn’t be able to play for the women’s league team until three years after gender reassignment surgery, or until she had a UK Gender Recognition Certificate – something Stella, who has been waiting three years for surgery, said is too expensive.
Stella has been left upset as the trans policy on the association’s website includes rules saying ‘the transsexual will do best by presenting herself in an understated fashion, including not wearing too much make-up’.
It adds ‘the transsexual should show goodwill by freely involving in aspects of social activities... (to) allow other members... to become used to her being around en femme’.
Opposition teams in friendlies should be sent a ‘ very carefully and sensitively written letter’ explaining the trans person is a ‘pleasant and likeable person who will not embarrass anyone involved,’ the policy said.
It added ‘the transexual might do well to come to games already changed’ to avoid using changing rooms or toilets.
Stella, who has two children, said: ‘It is so frustrating that we have to prove ourselves time and again.
‘My club and my team wants me to play because they think that I am good enough and I only want to be on the team if I am.
‘I think the league is in the dark ages and the rules are archaic. I understand if it was a sport like boxing then there would need to be more considerations but this is bowls.
‘It is a sport that has brought me happiness at a time when I have been very sad and depressed.
The current rules laid out by Bowls England on its website say only people who have had gender reassignment surgery before puberty or have a UK Gender Recognition Certificate will be allowed to play at league level.
The organisation told The News that it is reviewing its transgender policy.
Jon Cockcroft, Bowls England chief executive, said: ‘ We are proud of the intrinsically inclusive nature of our sport and our aim is to create an environment which is accessible and fair to all.
‘We will be reviewing and updating our transgender policy ahead of the 2021 season.
‘This more detailed work will provide greater clarity for all stakeholders within our sport to help avoid situations such as this.’
The News questioned Cyndy Goldacre, president of the Portsmouth & District Women’s Bowling Association, about the rules relating to behaviour.
These were not answered but the policy has been removed from the website.
In a statement Mrs Goldacre said: ‘This is a very emotive subject, one that obviously needs to be revisited by those who make the rulings.
‘I am advised that Bowls England and Sport England are in discussions on this very subject but these discussions are in their early stages and nothing new has been published at this present time.’
Sports England has been working with sports councils across the UK to commission a review around the separate challenge of trans peoples’ inclusion in domestic sport competition.
Maria Munir, head of community engagement at LGBT charity Stonewall said: ‘Many trans people feel excluded from taking part in the sports they love and it’s deeply upsetting to hear that this is happening to Stella Moore.’
Equality is a very simple concept, but very difficult to achieve in society, it would seem. Women, black people, those of other ethnic origin, disabled people, homeless people — the list of those who endlessly need to fight for their rights is a long one.
And today Stella Moore stands up in the call for equal rights and respect for trans people.
She is a transgender person who has lived as a woman for three years.
It is self evident that she deserves as much respect and the same rights as anyone else in society.
And yet she has run into a wall of discrimination in, of all things, the gentle sport of bowls.
For reasons known only to itself, Portsmouth & District Women’s Bowling Association is refusing to allow Stella to play bowls at competition level.
The organisation told her she wouldn’t be able to play for the women’s league team until three years after gender reassignment surgery, or until she had a UK Gender Recognition Certificate.
Stella, who has been waiting three years for surgery, said this was an expensive process.
It turns out the association has an extensive policy document on transgender issues, much of which comes across as ill-informed, condescending and confused, however well-meaning.
Take this gem, for instance: ‘Even though the transsexual will wish to present obviously as a female, she will do best by presenting herself in an understated fashion, including not wearing too much make-up (few lady bowlers ‘vamp-up’ on the green!)’
Little wonder that Stella has accused the association of living in the dark ages.
All she wants to do is play in bowls competitions, but, she faces barriers because of who she is.
That can’t be right.
The rule book needs editing down to just one line: Treat everybody equally.