Author: Sorcha Ní Fhaoláin
TENI – Transgender Equality Network IrelandNetworCycling IrelandCycling Ireland will partner to organise a trans+ inclusive Pride CycleSundrive Velodromedrive Velodrome.
The Event (open to youth aged between 12 – 18) is potentially an amazing opportunity to introduce young Trans people to the sport of Cycling.
Cycling is possibly one of the greatest and most accessible sports in the world (in my admittedly biased opinion, having won many Elite National Medals & Titles).
The tallest and most muscular individual can face the smallest most sinewy athlete on an equal footing in a battle of strength, speed, endurance, aerodynamics and wit.
However, if one of our amazing young trans people likes what they see on the 27th, they will be faced with exclusion, and barriers toCycling IrelandCycling Ireland will be delighted to promote a Trans event during Pride Month. They will roll out their Rainbow Logos and openly express their inclusivity and diversity, just like they did last year.Intersex Irelandntersex Ireland, along with assistance from members of OII Europe reviewed Cycling Irelands published policy for Trans and Intersex people and found it to be completely outdated.
Cycling Ireland sent an email thanking us for bringing it to their attention . They made a commitment to ‘act accordingly, with the appropriate staff and medical people’.
For the entire month of June Cycling Ireland proudly displayed its Pride colours, whilst behind the scenes preparing to adopt a policy to ban Trans and Intersex athletes from competing.
C.I. also continued to display outdated, derogatory and offensive language on their website as regards to Trans & Intersex members, even after the official request to amend the policy from Intersex Ireland.
On the August 3rd 2023 Cycling Ireland published its intention to adopt the new UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) policy (July 17th) in regard to Transgender athletes.
Trans Women and Intersex people were immediately prohibited from participating in women’s events in all categories and all disciplines.
A year is a long time in Sport and in March this year Sport Ireland published a new guidance on the inclusion of transgender and non-binary people in sport.
The relatively useless and offensive document was delivered by Dr Úna May, CEO of Sport Ireland.
Dr Úna May has been heavily involved in Cycling for many years. She consults regularly with the Board, attends National and Regional AGMs, has advised Commissions, has questioned and criticised some Selections and Selection Criteria, and it is the Sport her children compete in.
In April this year TET (Trans Equality Together) wrote to Dr Úna May to express the anxiety around the growing exclusionary narrative around trans people’s participation in sport, and particularly in regard to trans women and girls.
The response doubled down on their intention to exclude Trans people from competitive sport on an equal footing with their Cis peers.
Cycling Ireland can now reference their alliance with the national governing body for Trans people in Ireland (TENI) as an example of their inclusivity, and at the same time demand that Trans women race with the Men (Open).
Pride is not protest for those paid to Sorcha Ní Fhaoláin