The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has imposed a temporary ban on transgender women from participating in its women’s chess events..
FIDE stated that individual cases of transgender involvement would require “further analysis” and the decision could be extended for up to two years, according to agency officials who spoke to the BBC.
The move has garnered both support and opposition, and some players have raised concerns about the potential consequences of this policy change.
In particular, the FIDE decision has raised questions about its implications in a sport that does not involve the same degree of physical activity than other disciplines facing transgender athlete policies.
While various sports governing bodies have been actively formulating policies to address transgender athletes, chess presents unique considerations due to its nature. Despite the disparity in physical activity, FIDE stressed its intention to carefully examine the evolving landscape of transgender legislation and policy in sports.
“FIDE will be monitoring these developments and will see how we can apply them to the world of chess. Two years is a perspective that seemed reasonable for comprehensive analyzes of such developments,” FIDE told the news network.
The federation clarified that transgender players are not completely excluded from competitions, since they can still participate in the open section of their tournaments. However, this decision has sparked concerns and backlash from the chess community and advocates.
Transgender chess player Yosha Iglesias, who holds the rank of FIDE chess master, expressed strong opposition to the policy. Iglesias warned that the ban could cause “unnecessary harm” to players and transgender women, which could have negative psychological consequences.
In the last 2 weeks, I’ve been overwhelmed by the impact of the open letter that I initiated, dealing with many journalists and victims.
Yesterday was the decisive blow to my mental health.
I’m in the train to my first ever Women’s French Championship.
And I’m crying non stop. pic.twitter.com/nqMlkMaKjB
— Yosha Churches (@YoshaChurches) August 17, 2023
“Yesterday was the decisive blow to my mental health. I am on the train towards my first Women’s French Championship. And I’m crying non-stop, ”Iglesias wrote on her X account.
Prominent figures within the chess world, including Woman Grandmaster and two-time United States Women’s Champion Jennifer Shahade, criticized the FIDE decision as “ridiculous and dangerous.” Shahade stressed the need for better consultation with transgender players when shaping policy.
Besides the temporary ban on transgender womenFIDE’s policy also targeted trans men who had previously won women’s titles before the transition, indicating that their titles would be abolished.
Keep reading:
· Iranian chess player obtains Spanish citizenship after competing without hijab
· Law proposed by Democratic senators could help trans people who have changed their names with their credit reports
· Survey shows that LGBT+ employees are looking to change jobs because they want a more inclusive employer
2023-08-18 02:10:40
#Transgender #women #prohibited #participating #international #womens #chess #events #Journal
