The transgender community has long been facing discrimination in different aspects of life and sports is a major ground where they have often faced troubles. From being banned from teams to not getting equal opportunities on the ground, the trans community suffers quite badly when it comes to sports.
Recently, something similar happened as transgender netball players Manawa Aranui and another player got banned from participating in their major community league. As reported by Tyla, “Manawa Aranui and another trans athlete previously played for Melton Central in the Riddell District Netball Football League in Victoria, Australia.”
However, last week, the competitor team Melton South complained against the duo as they mentioned that they do not feel safe playing with them. They also apparently threatened to boycott future matches if these two trans players kept being a part of the team.
These claims surfaced after a video showed Aranui unintentionally knocking a biologically female player to the ground. While this is quite a common occurrence in netball matches, unfortunately, in Aranui’s case, it led to her being outed as a trans player and thus having more muscle power than those who are biologically female.
Eventually Riddell District Netball Football League announced that Aranui and the other player will not be allowed to play in any netball competitions this year. Explaining the decision, the league’s website mentioned, “The RDFNL will continue to work with the relevant stakeholders on this very sensitive issue and offer any support that we can.
The RDFNL Board reserves the right to reconsider these options at a future date should circumstances change.”
Since the ban, Aranui has also issued a statement, criticizing the decision of the league. Posting on the social media site Facebook, Aranui wrote, “I’ve sat quietly long enough while this narrative brewed and I’ve been dragged – publicly and without consent – into a conversation where both my character and identity have been attacked.”
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Her post further mentioned, “I’m not usually one to let outside noise affect me, but when ‘opinions’ and ‘statements’ are being twisted and presented as facts, I no longer feel it’s my place to stay silent. Melton South Football Netball Club and your Netball Coordinator/players: you’re entitled to your opinions, but let’s clear some things up. Your head coach tried to recruit me to play for your club. Yes—YOUR HEAD COACH TRIED TO RECRUIT ME.”
She also added a screenshot of the conversation between her and the coach to prove her words and then added, “The same club now publicly speaking out against me, bashing me, and attacking the trans/non-binary community in the media, is the very club whose head coach approached me to join you.”
Aranui then went on to address her rivals who said that they were not comfortable playing with her. She said, “Maybe this was a conversation or offer you’ve since buried to protect your narrative, but let me ask: Would this still be a conversation if I’d accepted the offer and played for you? Or is it only a problem now because we’re on opposing teams?”
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She then added, “You’re entitled to believe it’s ‘unfair’ for cis women to compete against transgender women. That’s your opinion. But the lies? They need to stop. You’re not out here protecting women’s sport. You’re being malicious, using false narratives to mask your bigotry and personal agendas behind the guise of ‘safeguarding women’s spaces.’”
She also called out the league authorities who made the decision and mentioned that she hoped that no one from their families ever had to endure what she was going through. It now remains to be seen if the authorities reconsider their decisions following Aranui’s words or if things remain the same.
