International Chess Federation bars trans women from participating in the women’s category
Under the new rule, set to take effect August 21st, trans players will still be allowed to compete in an open category.
International Chess Federation (FIDE) has decided to bar trans women from participating in the women’s category.
Under the new rule, set to take effect August 21st, trans players will still be allowed to compete in an open category.
The International Chess Federation has said that biological males have ‘no right to participate’ against female players.
The move has attracted backlash from several international players and advocacy groups.
The ICF statement on their new policy said: “Change of gender is a change that has a significant impact on a player’s status and future eligibility to tournaments, therefore it can only be made if there is relevant proof of the change provided.”
“In the event that the gender was changed from a male to a female the player has no right to participate in official FIDE events for women until further FIDE’s decision is made.”
Reactions continue to pour in following the Switzerland-based global chess governing body’s decision:
The international chess federation rules that biological males who “identify” as women cannot play in female tournaments. This is fascinating because chess is a mental game and the rule implicitly concedes that men are intellectually superior to women in this sport pic.twitter.com/pBkYsnQMS4
— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) August 17, 2023
Corrected: International Chess Federation shows the world it believes in 'girl-brains' and 'boy-brains'.
— Women's Equality Party (@WEP_UK) August 18, 2023
Sexist, transphobic bullsh**.
Their priority right now should be responding to the allegations of rife sexual abuse and sexism in chess https://t.co/chtyph7gQU
BREAKING: The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has BANNED transgender females from competing in women's events.
— Proud Elephant 🇺🇸🦅 (@ProudElephantUS) August 17, 2023
Finally some sanity for once!!! pic.twitter.com/AbVXSDmJ63
I am genuinely not shitting you here – this is not a parody – the international chess federation is restricting trans women from competing in women's chess competitions.
— Natalie Washington (@Transsomething) August 16, 2023
Chess. https://t.co/PPIusgI04m
Trans panic is so bad that the international chess federation has banned trans women from competing in women's events, which is ironic, as women's events only exist because of sexist discrimination in chess. It goes to show that all this "physical advantage" stuff is nonsense.
— Aidan Comerford (@AidanCTweets) August 17, 2023
