Holly Hazlewood: trans moral panic overshadows real threats to sportswomen

Former NRL.com reporter Holly Hazlewood says moral panic over trans sportswomen overshadows the real threats to women’s sports.

Former journalist Holly Hazlewood made history in 2020 becoming the first openly trans person to work at NRL.com.

Miss Hazlewood covered the Canberra Raiders for the online platform for over four years before shifting careers to become an exercise physiologist.

Reflecting on her coming out journey Miss Hazlewood concedes it probably came as a shock to her NRL.com colleagues, but said her former employer was quick to accommodate her needs and consider the needs of future gender-diverse employees.

Holly Hazlewood was NRL.com's first openly transgender employee. Picture: Supplied

“They didn’t skip a beat,” she said.

“In terms of my superiors they said ‘the job is still yours, this doesn’t change a thing’.”

“(But) there was no actual HR policy about inclusivity of trans or gender diverse employees, there was nothing in black and white about protecting people who are transgender or intersex.

“Cara Stagg who was the head of HR wanted to (create a policy) for a while and the fact I came out gave it a launch pad to bring the policy to life.”

Growing up near Bathurst NSW, Miss Hazlewood said sport was ingrained into everyday life and ultimately inspired her to pursue journalism.

She said during her time as a journalist sport was the key to finding connection and community in unfamiliar places.

“It was how you made friendships,” she said.

“You would move into town, join a sporting club and all of a sudden you’ve got 20 to 30 people you can hang out with on the weekend.”

Holly Hazlewood is a proud transgender woman. Picture: Supplied

While coming out as transgender has allowed Miss Hazlewood to live authentically she admits it has forced her to reassess her relationship with sport.

“To be honest I haven’t played any team sports since I’ve come out,” she said.

“I don’t know how I would feel and that would be a pretty big barrier to potentially overcome.

“I’m pretty tall, I’m just under two metres, I’ve been on hormone replacement therapy for two years so trust me, I do not have the strength that I used to have anymore.

“But there is still this perception that I would somehow have advantages over other women.”

Miss Hazlewood cited misconceptions about transgender participation in sport as a sore spot.

“When it comes particularly to trans women in sport there is a lot of prejudice in the community,” she said.

“I think there’s a lot of misinformation out there and a lot of fear mongering out there about trans women playing with cisgender women in competitions.”

Holly Hazlewood now works as an exercise physiologist. Picture: supplied

Ms Hazlewood said the moral panic over trans women participating in sport distracts from real material barriers sportswomen face.

“The biggest barrier to women’s sport is a lack of funding and a lack of equal opportunities for all women,” she said.

“They are the real barriers, not someone like me who probably wants to run around, get a bit of fitness in on the weekend, and maybe make a few friends.

“I’m not the big scary monster the Liberal party would have you believe.”

Miss Hazlewood said it was important for others to push past the politicking and treat queer people with the same respect as everyone else.

“Queer people exist, we’re everywhere,” she said.

“The sooner people accept it the better it is for everyone.

“We aren’t a threat to anybody, we’re just trying to be happy.”