“Humiliating and hurtful”: Trans+ people react to Keir Starmer backing sports ban
Trans+ people have been left feeling “sick” and “upset” after Keir Starmer said he is “supportive” of moves to ban them from sports teams.
WORDS BY CONOR CLARK HEADER BY YOSEF PHELAN “Sick”, “upset” and “discriminated against” are just some of the words trans+ people used to describe how they are feeling after Sir Keir Starmer became the latest politician to back bans on their participation in sport.
The leader of the Labour Party, who could soon be the next Prime Minister, has previously kept his distance from the issue, though has now confirmed that he is “supportive” of governing bodies moving to stop trans women competing in female categories. “I think the important thing is that the sports governing bodies take a lead on this,” he told Telegraph Sport on 11 March. “And they are doing that, and we’re supportive of what they’re doing, particularly in elite sport.
So, that’s where the decision should be taken. They’ve taken a number of decisions. And, in the end, common sense has to prevail in terms of safety and integrity of sport.” Despite there being a minute number of trans athletes participating in sport at an elite level, discussions around their involvement are rife in the media.
