Anne Isabella Coombes, a 67-year-old trans woman, protested Swim England's exclusionary policies by competing in an open category swim event while topless. After transitioning in 2020, Coombes had previously gained eligibility for female competitions in 2022, but a new policy prohibited trans women from competing in these categories. The policy required competitors with a male birth sex to enter an open category, preventing any clarity on whether others, such as trans men, could compete in female events. Coombes felt compelled to protest against being outed as a trans woman and emphasized her desire to compete without identity politics.
I explained to the person on the phone that they were putting me in a position where I would be outing myself as a transgender woman, which felt extremely vulnerable. In that moment, I simply wanted to compete without having to navigate identity politics.
The new policy introduced by Swim England puts a blanket ban on anyone with a birth sex of male from being able to enter female category races, raising concerns on equality and inclusivity in sports.
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