Reports form the Corners of the Internet: Edition 11
Deep Bench (old Updates) *Gender & the WFTDA Gender Statement CHANGE PROPOSAL
Did you think I wasn’t going talk about the history of gender in Roller Derby, I mean it’s hard to avoid. Was Roller Derby always Coed?
From Pioneer Valley RD
“On our founding in 2006, we were the first flat track roller derby league to offer both women’s and men’s teams, and in 2014 we became the first league to offer a team explicitly for people of all/no genders”
Considering the origin story, the photos and the previous to television history, yes. Perhaps not on the level that open gender is in the present day but YES.
2014 marked the adoption of the Mens Roller Derby Association (MRDA) gender policy.
2015 Women’s Flat Track Derby Association(WFTDA) releases a statement
“endorsed by its member leagues, that creates broad discrimination protections within the organization for individuals who identify as transgender, intersex or gender expansive and definitively allows trans women, intersex women and gender expansive athletes to participate and compete within the WFTDA.
It states that the WFTDA “is committed to inclusive and anti-discrimination practices in relation to all transgender women, intersex women, and gender expansive participants, and aims to ensure that all skaters’, volunteers’, and employees’ rights are respected and protected.”
“The WFTDA will also update its bylaws to incorporate these values.”
In 2017 Gloom made a more visible statement, a statement CHATTER stands behind and wants WFTDA to fulfill it’s promise to be “vigilant about making our existing policies, resources and practices more inclusive and gender-neutral”
In 2019 Erica Vandstone then executive director of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA)
“in 2016, we realized that the medical requirements were really prohibitive to being inclusive and we rely on individuals to self-identify.”
“the early roots for the sport have been inclusive for women, and we want that for everyone.”
I think this interview with Erica reminds me of where I was in the winter of 2019 which is after this September 4th 2019 PBS audio clip.
To be transparent with my readers…
I remember feeling pressured to agree to a league gender policy that was not as inclusive as the WFTDA policy. I contacted WFTDA Grievance after several unpleasant situations occurred. Because as Erica also mentions in the audio clip
“address gender issues at the league level"
This would be why I formed CHATTER, a support group and action committee for the trans and non binary roller derby community. Because as I became more informed, I also felt somewhat disillusioned. Constantly mired in red tape while engaged to ‘continue to advocate for change”. I didn’t want to get personal but it feels personal to be excluded from an organization loudly proclaiming themselves inclusive and empowering.
In 2021 after the onset of what in my opinion is an ongoing pandemic, WFTDA updated it’s Bylaws.
I, through every means given, have been submitting proposals to WFTDA in an attempt to update the Gender Statement with the help of many talented people.
the full text of the current proposal reads as follows…
WFTDA Gender Statement CHANGE PROPOSAL
Background
The current WFTDA gender statement is unclear. The language “the version and composition of roller derby with which they most closely identify” suggests a hierarchic relationship to binary gender not shared by all gender expansive individuals. Over the past few years, we have been organizing and discussing this topic with a diverse group of trans and gender expansive individuals from a variety of WFTDA and other roller derby leagues to collaboratively generate an improved statement that better honors each of our individual experiences and that we hope will better serve to protect our global community.
Previous statement:
“The WFTDA recognizes that identifying as transgender, intersex, and/or gender expansive is not in any way related to an individual’s eligibility for participating as a volunteer or employee. An individual who identifies as a trans woman, intersex woman, and/or gender expansive may skate with a WFTDA charter team if women’s flat track roller derby is the version and composition of roller derby with which they most closely identify.
The WFTDA will actively work to promote a climate that is welcoming and inclusive of transgender, intersex, and gender expansive participants. Any conduct which fosters a hostile environment for any participant on the basis of gender identity will not be tolerated. In addition, the WFTDA will continue to increase its knowledge of trans, intersex, and gender expansive issues through ongoing education for volunteers and staff. The gender identity of any and all WFTDA participants is considered confidential and private.”
Full text and definitions can be found here:
https://resources.wftda.org/womens-flat-track-derby-association-statement-about-gender/
Revised Statement to replace entire previous statement.
An individual who identifies as a Marginalized Gender may skate with WFTDA.
The WFTDA recognizes that identifying as transgender, intersex, and/or non-binary is not in any way related to an individual’s eligibility for participating as a skater, volunteer, or employee. An individual who identifies as a Marginalized Gender, regardless of presentation, is welcomed and encouraged to participate in the WFTDA, including skating on a WFTDA charter or holding elected office. Marginalized Genders, by their nature, are constantly evolving and changing, so attempting to include an exhaustive list would limit the scope of this policy (as well as immediately age this policy).
A small subsection of current Marginalized Genders are as follows:
Trans and cis women
Intersex, transfeminine, and transmasculine individuals
Those who are Two-Spirit, genderqueer, agender, genderfluid and/or non-binary
Any combination of the above (or other) Marginalized Genders
The WFTDA does not and will not differentiate between members regardless of presentation and identity, and does not and will not set minimum standards of Femininity or Androgyny for its membership or interfere with the privacy of its members for the purposes of eligibility. These activities include, but are not limited to, membership eligibility, disbursement of resources, and eligibility for office. The WFTDA is committing to do the work necessary to provide a truly inclusive and welcoming environment for all in our community who share this vision of equity and equality.
The WFTDA will actively work on ensuring and cultivating a climate that is welcoming and inclusive of those with a Marginalized Gender. Any conduct which fosters a hostile environment for any participant on the basis of gender identity and presentation will not be tolerated, with consequences up to (and including) being banned from any WFTDA endorsed events. In addition, the WFTDA will continue to deepen and increase its knowledge of Trans and Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC), Intersex, and Two- Spirit issues through ongoing education and training modules for volunteers and staff. The WFTDA will ensure that this education is fiscally responsible and led by members of the Marginalized Genders concerned so that the knowledge being disseminated is from a place of experience, not from a place of privilege, and not simply a thought exercise.
The gender identity of any and all WFTDA participants is considered confidential and private until such time, place, and capacity in which the individual wishes to disclose it.
SHOUT OUTS <3
TO Pioneer Valley RD
“On our founding in 2006, we were the first flat track roller derby league to offer both women’s and men’s teams, and in 2014 we became the first league to offer a team explicitly for people of all/no genders”
Links