Level playing field? It’s the gender f luid Games
THe traditional tests of a man’s strength once helped clan chiefs to choose their finest warriors.
But the world of the Highland Games is facing a very Pc overhaul – amid talks to include transgender, non-binary and female entrants.
it comes as other sports adopt a more ‘gender fluid’ mandate.
Members of the Scottish Highland Games Association (SHGA) met in Perth yesterday to discuss the proposals before lobbying the Scottish Government for funding.
Highlands and islands Labour MSP rhoda Grant warned organisers in December that financial support would rely on treating all sexes as equal.
Games have always been maledominated events and have been criticised for not doing more to encourage diversity.
Women are not banned from taking part in heavy events such as tossing the caber but they must use the same equipment as male competitors – and be as competent with it. This differs from the US, where female entrants are given smaller, lighter cabers.
The proposals being discussed by the SHGA – which represents more than 60 events across Scotland – follows Scottish Athletics’ introduction of ‘non-binary’ event categories.
Before yesterday’s meeting, SHGA secretary ian Grieve sent committee members an email about greater inclusion of women in future Games, and highlighted Scottish Athletics’ changes.
Last night, Mr Grieve said diversity and inclusion remained ‘under active discussion’.
He said talks about a handicap system to allow women to compete directly with men in the same events were at an early stage.
More discussions on diversity will take place next month, after further consultation. This will include meetings with Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie rennie – who competes in hill-running events at Highland Games – along with Scottish Athletics and eventScotland.
Mr Grieve said: ‘By that time we may have a clearer understanding of how we may take this forward. The SHGA remains committed to equality in competition.’ Since June 2017, Scottish Athletics has licensed a number of events with a non-binary category.
Last week, the sporting body as recently published updated guidance for ‘race organisers who want to ensure they are inclusive of non-binary participants’.
campaigns for greater gender equality have gained pace thanks to transgender charities and women’s rights movements such as #MeToo.
But last week, Scottish Government legislation on including gender identity in the census was deemed ‘not fit for purpose’.
MSPs said plans to allow people to identify as neither male nor female should be scrapped.
A Holyrood committee urged the Government to let Scots identify only as one of those two options in the 2021 census and other official surveys.
Ministers had proposed measures to allow people to choose a ‘non-binary’ option. But a report by Holyrood’s culture committee said the Government failed to consult properly on the matter.
it added that use of the term ‘gender identity’ had led to confusion over whether people would be asked their physical sex or the gender as which they identify.
‘Committed to equality’