Trans woman responds to PM’s support of transgender ban in women’s sport

Transgender athlete Harry Robinson-Cox, who plays volleyball for Adelaide University, says she is disgusted at Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s support of banning trans women from female sport.

Transgender athlete Harry Robinson-Cox fears a touted Bill to veto transgender athletes from women’s sport will stop people from “coming out.”

The ‘save women’s sports’ Bill, proposed by Liberal Senator Claire Chandler, was based on fear and ignorance, the Adelaide University volleyball player said.

Ms Robinson-Cox said it was even more disappointing that Scott Morrison is so openly supporting the ‘discriminatory’ bill to ban transgender people from women’s sport.

Harry Robinson-Cox identifies as a woman. Here she is in action playing volleyball for Adelaide University. Picture: Dean Martin

The Prime Minister has publicly backed the proposed bill saying “it’s a terrific bill”.

Ms Robinson-Cox said Mr Morrison’s “blatant hypocrisy” is encouraging the discrimination of a minority group by suggesting that “being trans is bad.”

“I feel like bills like this encourage people more and more to not be themselves and not come out,” she said.

“This should not be something that’s a point of discrimination, we’ve come so far as a society with things like race.

The 21- year-old, who is studying health and medical science, has committed the last 8 years of her life to volleyball.

“The team has been so good, this is my fourth year with them, it’s like a second family,” said Ms Robinson-Cox.

Harry Robinson-Cox identifies as a woman and plays volleyball for Adelaide University. Picture: Dean Martin

“Volleyball has become such a huge part of my life, if I was told I couldn’t play anymore, I would feel so invalidated and lost as there is no way I would ever play in a men’s team, I’d have nowhere to go.”

If passed, the Bill would prevent women’s sports clubs from being sued for excluding a transgender player, in order to ‘reduce the risk of injury and unfair competition’.

Kansas Bird, president for University of Adelaide’s Pride club said the legislation proposed by the senator will “take an already vulnerable group” and make them a “greater target for harassment.

Originally published as Trans woman responds to PM’s support of transgender ban in women’s sport