The Green Party condemns the Government’s decision to abandon guidelines outlining how transgender athletes can be included in community sport.

"Everyone deserves to feel safe in sport, including our trans whānau," says Benjamin Doyle, Green Party spokesperson for Takatāpui and Rainbow Communities.

“The transgender inclusive community sport guidelines were developed in recognition that not everyone has the tools to know how to include transgender people in sports, but that everyone has the capacity to love their communities enough to learn.

“These guidelines were just that – guidelines that could keep our communities safe, which no one was bound to adhere to – and now they’ve been scrapped.

“Minister Mark Mitchell said himself that there was nothing wrong with the guidelines. It is abundantly clear that this is a political move to appease coalition partners and appeal to some of the most hate-filled corners of our society.

“Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has failed transgender, takatāpui and rainbow communities yet again. We cannot build a thriving society where all people are valued and respected by trying to disappear trans and non-binary folk from public life.

“We stand with transgender, takatāpui and rainbow communities. The Greens are committed to ensuring community sports are inclusive of everyone,” says Benjamin Doyle.

(Benjamin Doyle uses they/them pronouns.)

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