Joe Hildebrand: ‘I was a trailblazer of gender-bending on the field’

The Federal Election has become a referendum on whether to allow biologically male transgender athletes to play women’s sport. But what about biological males who play like girls, asks Joe Hildebrand.

In a result that few political scientists predicted, it appears that this federal election has become a referendum on whether biologically male transgender athletes should be allowed to play women’s sport.

Much of the credit for this has been attributed to the Liberal candidate for the northern Sydney seat of Warringah Katherine Deves, who believes that such participation could disadvantage athletes who were born female.

However, what few people have acknowledged is that I was an early pioneer in this field myself.

Having had the misfortune of being born a biological hippie, and raised by two parents of the same species, I never once had a proper haircut throughout my childhood.

This meant that when I first played football in primary school I had locks that would put Warwick Capper to shame and this caused a groundbreaking gender debate.

“Hey,” the captain of the opposing team complained to his counterpart. “How come you let girls play in your team?”

My captain was then forced to awkwardly explain the fact that I was in fact a biological male.

Adding to the confusion was that there was clearly nothing in my playing style to indicate to my opponents that I was not, in fact, a girl.

Katherine Deves is so serious about keeping women’s sport for women biologically born women, she started a group in 2020 called Save Women's Sport Australia. Picture: Nikki Short

Some reactionaries might think that this was a reflection of my weak and effeminate abilities with the ball.

However, I prefer to see it as a testimony to the raw power of female athleticism that has since taken the world by storm.

Frankly, I could’ve been a Williams sister.

And so if we’re going to debate the merits of gender-bending ball-handling can we please at least take a moment to respect and honour the true trailblazers in this field? You’re welcome.

Not all heroes wear capes but some of us do, very occasionally, wear pants.

Watch Joe break more boundaries on The Blame Game — 8.30pm Fridays on Sky News.

Originally published as Joe Hildebrand: ‘I was a trailblazer of gender-bending on the field’