World chess federation bars transgender women

[KathyLauren]

If you needed proof that banning trans women from "sport" is not really about performance, here it is:

 

World chess federation bars transgender women from competing in women’s events

 

I hope it is okay to say -what the heck- here!

[VickySGV]

I almost expected to see that as a satire piece, but the king just slightly over a pawn in the direction it moves.  The queen on the other hand-----

[Ivy]

When I saw this one I had to shake my head as well.  

 

Charlotte Clymer has a good article on this here-

https://charlotteclymer.substack.com/p/banning-trans-women-from-chess-tournaments?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

 

She does a good job of explaining the existence of separate women's chess.

Women are allowed to play with the men if they want to, and some do.

 

But there's not much point of banning trans women from playing with the rest of the women.

 

[Vidanjali]

44 minutes ago, Ivy said:

When I saw this one I had to shake my head as well.  

 

Charlotte Clymer has a good article on this here-

https://charlotteclymer.substack.com/p/banning-trans-women-from-chess-tournaments?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

 

She does a good job of explaining the existence of separate women's chess.

Women are allowed to play with the men if they want to, and some do.

 

But there's not much point of banning trans women from playing with the rest of the women.

 

 

This clearly has nothing to do with concern over amab people having an unfair advantage, but about preserving "women's spaces", which in said context is taken by the bigoted to mean ciswomen's spaces, the underlying principle belief being the invalidation of transwomen as women. And whether ciswomen chess players largely hold this destructive belief, or the chess powers that be hold it ostensibly on their behalf, it is not only transphobic, but sexist to contend that ciswomen need protection from transwomen; both cis and trans women suffer under the patriarchy (as do all trans ppl), and moreover, one might argue that transwomen are less safe than ciswomen in (cis)male-dominated spaces. 

[Charlize]

2 hours ago, KathyLauren said:

hope it is okay to say -what the heck- here!

That actually seems quite appropriate.  Maybe it's because we trans folks can see the board from two perspectives?  Most likely it is because the federation contains hateful elements.... It happens.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Carolyn Marie]

Everything that needed to be said about this has already been said by you all wonderful women.  All I can add is that this is patently absurd, sexist, transphobic and nonsensical. 

 

What else is new under the sun?

 

Carolyn Marie

[awkward-yet-sweet]

Well, I'm not really a woman anymore, but I'll toss my two pennies in....

 

Even if we assumed that folks were 100% correct in their concerns about physical sports regarding safety, fairness, and privacy in locker rooms.... what possible issue can be found in chess????  IDK why they even want to separate men and women for chess, let alone this.  The folks who came up with this idea are definitely at the top of their specific sport:  Mental Gymnastics.  The amount of effort required to bend the brain to a shape that comes up with this result is truly awe inspiring. 

[Jani]

I'm confused by this comment. 

 

"Holders of women’s titles who change their genders to male would see those titles “abolished,” the federation said, while holding out the possibility of a reinstatement “if the person changes the gender back to a woman.”

 

“If a player has changed the gender from a man into a woman, all the previous titles remain eligible,” the federation said."

 

Maybe that former women title holders are too scary to be included with the men?   What the heck?

[Vidanjali]

3 hours ago, Carolyn Marie said:

wonderful women

 

and nonbinary friends 😉

[Carolyn Marie]

3 hours ago, Vidanjali said:

 

and nonbinary friends 😉

 

Absolutely!!

[Maddee]

13 hours ago, Jani said:

I'm confused by this comment. 

 

"Holders of women’s titles who change their genders to male would see those titles “abolished,” the federation said, while holding out the possibility of a reinstatement “if the person changes the gender back to a woman.”

 

“If a player has changed the gender from a man into a woman, all the previous titles remain eligible,” the federation said."

 

Maybe that former women title holders are too scary to be included with the men?   What the heck?

Might this be another case of media mistakingly using the terms “transwomen” for ftms and trans men for mtfs?

[Vidanjali]

14 hours ago, Jani said:

I'm confused by this comment. 

 

"Holders of women’s titles who change their genders to male would see those titles “abolished,” the federation said, while holding out the possibility of a reinstatement “if the person changes the gender back to a woman.”

 

“If a player has changed the gender from a man into a woman, all the previous titles remain eligible,” the federation said."

 

Maybe that former women title holders are too scary to be included with the men?   What the heck?

 

54 minutes ago, Maddee said:

Might this be another case of media mistakingly using the terms “transwomen” for ftms and trans men for mtfs?

 

The ignorant use of "changing genders" aside, I took it to mean that if a nontransitioned transman holder of a women's title then later transitions to present as a man, then that women's title would be abolished (sic), but if that transman detransitions they may possibly have the title restored. But, if a nontransitioned transwomen won a title in the open (not gender specific) competition and then later transitioned to present as a woman, her title would remain valid due to the gender nonspecific nature of the open competition. In other words, they are "generously" allowing transwomen to attain tiles in the open competition, but only allowing transmen to retain women's titles so long as they don't transition. So, if you're afab, trans, femme-presenting, and keep your mouth shut, you can enjoy the privilege of this "women's space." Although, in their great wisdom (read the sarcasm) they did not specify rules for nonbinary or intersex people. Chess is really complicated. 

 

I suspect "abolish" is not the right term in this context as it refers to the removal or stopping of an institution or system. I assume they meant that person would be stripped of the tile and not that the title would no longer exist within the institution of competitive chess. But, who can say for sure - these rules sound like they're made up by a pouty toddler teetering on the verge of a tantrum. Like, if a transman won the women's title pretransition, he may have gotten cooties on the title, so it would have to be abolished so that no one else would catch those cooties. But, if he detretransitions, it's just his own cooties, so he might possibly get the title back. Smh. 

[Maddee]

Ok.  I had thought it might be a case like the trans shooter in the news a short while back who was labeled in the media to be a transwoman, but in fact was a non op AFAB 

[KathyLauren]

19 hours ago, awkward-yet-sweet said:

IDK why they even want to separate men and women for chess, let alone this. 

 

It sounds like there are two categories: open and women's.  Open is for everyone, male or female, cis or trans.  The women's category seems to be some kind of affirmative action program to encourage women and girls to take up competitive chess, recognizing the heavily male bias in the game as it exists now. 

 

That doesn't make this new regulation any less transphobic, but it does make the division a bit less incomprehensible.

[Ivy]

International chess official suggests women can’t compete with men due to “hormones” & “endurance”

 

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2023/08/international-chess-official-suggests-women-cant-compete-with-men-due-to-hormones-endurance/

 

I quit playing chess probably 20years ago.  I didn't like how it made me feel really competitive.  It wasn't fun at that point.

[Carolyn Marie]

1 hour ago, Ivy said:

International chess official suggests women can’t compete with men due to “hormones” & “endurance”

 

And that comment is exactly the attitude that caused women chess players to form their own competitive league.  It's so nice when the misogynists come right out and say what everyone else is thinking.  🤣

 

Carolyn Marie

[Vidanjali]

7 hours ago, Ivy said:

 “hormones” & “endurance”

 

These enable ppl with female reproductive system to support gestation and give birth...which is clearly not as challenging as chess lol. 

[AllieJ]

I am reading there are many countries refusing to follow these new rules, some saying they are bound by their own anti discrimination laws which prevent adopting the new rules.

 

There has also been general opposition to the notion that women are inferior mentally, but none seem to be making headlines, possibly reflecting the public interest in chess. 

 

Hugs,

 

Allie

[awkward-yet-sweet]

9 hours ago, Ivy said:

International chess official suggests women can’t compete with men due to “hormones” & “endurance”

 

Well, they must be right.  It takes a ton of physical strength to move those pawns...a whole game is very tiring.  And castling?  You really have to work out to be able to complete that move.  😏 

 

Not sure why there are fewer women playing chess.  Maybe they have other stuff to do, so they don't end up at the competitive international level?  I enjoy a game now and then, but its just a fun pastime.  I think my Foxy Foursome is going to start playing team chess....at least when my sister isn't at work.  Its especially something ladies around here do at the bar or on the table in the family room while the menfolk talk about cars, guns, and crop yields.  I don't know any family around here who doesn't have a combination set of chess, checkers, and backgammon.