Weightlifting President Appeals to Ban Trans People in Philippine Sports
The president of the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) appeals to ban the trans people from joining Philippine sports.
SWP chief Monico Puentevella is urging the introduction of a bill that would prevent transgender individuals from participating in sports in the Philippines. The former Bacolod City Mayor made this proposal during the hearing of the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development.
Puentevella stated, “I would like to request that another congressman can file a bill not allowing transgender [people] in Philippine sports because with all due respect… other sports like football, may sumasali nang mga lalaki na ginagawang babae (abroad).”
Committee chairperson and Isabela 5th District Representative Faustino Michael Carlos Dy III expressed the view that it would be “fair” for those born male to compete in the male category and those born female to compete in the female category. Dy emphasized the need for local sports associations to adhere to the rules of international sports associations.
“I want it to be fair to everyone. Kung lalaki ka ipinanganak, kailangan sa male ka mag-compete. Kung babae ka ipinanganak, kailangan sa female ka mag-compete. No matter if ano’ng preference mo as your gender,” Dy said.
“We have international sports associations, di ba? Ang local sports associations natin, kailangan sumunod sa rules ng international. So kung i-ban natin dito and allowed sa international, lugi naman tayo. It really depends on the international,” he added.
The issue of transgender participation in sports has been contentious in various countries, including the United States, where lawmakers are pushing a bill to prohibit transgender women and girls from joining sports teams aligned with their gender identity.
Based on the report of ABS-CBN, the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act,” filed in March, aims to narrow civil rights protections against sex-based discrimination and recognize sex as “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”
The bill, which some conservatives argue promotes fairness and safeguards women, was passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives education committee. World Athletics also implemented a ban earlier this year, preventing transgender women from competing in female track and field events, regardless of their testosterone levels.
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