Bruce Herbert ブルース

Asia Pacific citizen.

[Bruce Herbert ブルース @brherb]

@GrayConnolly Historic failure of our political leadership.

[Bruce Herbert ブルース @brherb]

@DrCameronMurray Things mostly only seem quaint or weird in hindsight

[Bruce Herbert ブルース @brherb]

@GrayConnolly @clairlemon Nothing new in this. Laziness and greed have always been motivators. Bad science, especially engineering, gets uncovered in the real world

[Bruce Herbert ブルース @brherb]

@eaonp Shopping list meets paintball

[Bruce Herbert ブルース @brherb]

@Justinstee85514 @GrayConnolly Exactly. Not a wink of empathy for those people and communities whose livelihoods are devastated just sneering condescension.

[Bruce Herbert ブルース @brherb]

@BBCWorld Freudian slip 😐

[Bruce Herbert ブルース @brherb]

@StuartHerbert Also why activists are happy to tell lies if they support their case & ignore things that don’t. Virtue > Honesty

[Lucy Zelić @LucyZelic]

Yesterday, Putney Rangers FC were due to play against Flying Bats FC in the Women’s Premier League First Grade Female Division but chose to forfeit. They are the second side to do so this season, following on from Macquarie Dragons FC, who forfeited on the 21st of April.

That this outcome could - even by the most romantic standards - be classified as positive is partially true, but it ignores one very crucial point; the rights of these women to play the game they love safely, and with competitive integrity, have been taken away from them.

They, and many parents, have voiced their concerns to no avail and now, forfeiting is all they have left.

Worse still, the custodians of our game remain publicly silent. Lest we be fooled by Football Australia’s claims that it “aims to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for all Members participating in football.”

During my career, I have interviewed a range of exceptional female athletes, some of whom have represented our country. Some of them, have cried about the sacrifices they made just to play football, while others were as young as 14. These interactions have always been rewarding and so divinely innocent - most of the young players could barely make eye contact while we spoke.

For the entirety of their careers, they have been told that they don’t deserve as much money as the men, that their football quality will never supersede the men’s, and that they will never be as good as the men.

Now, as Flying Bats FC - a team with five transgender players - sit atop the Women’s Premier League in the North West Sydney Football Association - the female players opposed to playing against them, are once again being told they aren’t important or worthy. It is my understanding that some players are feeling distressed over facing disciplinary action because of their stances, and some are trying to get transferred out of the division.

This is shocking and I stand in solidarity with each of them.

What began as ideological inclusion has resulted in the exclusion of the women these single-sex categories were created for.

At the time of writing, the NWSFA adopt the following guidelines:

“5.2.1 In line with the FA Member Protection Policy, players may register and participate on the basis of their gender identification.”

The FA Member Protection Framework: Anti-Discrimination Policy states:

1. “Everyone should be able to enjoy participating in Football regardless of age, gender, ability or disability, cultural or religious background or sexual orientation, or other attributes that may lead to any person feeling excluded or isolated, and have a safe, positive and inclusive experience.”

But here is where National Sporting Organisations like FA, have not only contradicted themselves, but confused everyone in the process:

“4.1 The exceptions to State, Territory and Federal anti-discrimination law, including exceptions for sporting activities, include but are not limited to:”

“(b) excluding people on the basis of their sex and/or gender identity status from participation in a competitive sporting activity where the strength, stamina or physique of competitors is relevant to the specific activity (note that this does not apply to activity by children who are under the age of 12 years);”

One policy, built perilously on two very different ideals. “Hey! Come one, come all! (But psst - not if you’re bigger, stronger and can run for days).

That NSO’s are being deliberately obtuse on this issue and refusing to invoke the protective legislation is the greatest problem females seeking safety and protection in Australian sport are facing. Especially at the community level, which has long been regarded as the heart and soul of any sporting code.

You cannot play both sides of the fence.

Recently, I read an excellent quote which said “don’t be afraid of losing people, but be afraid of losing yourself trying to make everyone happy.” It is more true now, than ever before.

[Kirralie Smith @KirralieS]

I am so impressed with @BenFordhamLive & @LucyZelic for pursuing fairness for women!

Listen to this letter, & player "Sarah," who highlight there is NO consent & males are protected at females expense.

SHAME on @footballnsw

https://t.co/PRMsu0iPQW

[Bruce Herbert ブルース @brherb]

@BenFordhamLive https://t.co/q7sCp9wri5

[Bill Ackman @BillAckman]

Not to weigh in on another controversial topic, but here goes:

When we screen female athletes in the Olympics for testosterone supplementation etc., we do so because we understand that male hormones can give female athletes a material and unfair competitive advantage.

How then can we allow transfemales to compete in women’s sports?

What is the best argument for allowing transfemales to compete in women’s sports, but disallowing women to use performance enhancing drugs in the same contest?

What am I missing?

[Stephen Chavura @ChavuraStephen]

So-called trans women are not women. They are men. And vice versa for so-called trans men. Do I say this to be offensive? Absolutely not. I don’t think that setting out to be offensive or provocative is virtuous. I say these things because once we stop saying them they will become taboo. Once we stop saying these things we will soon find the social pressure to never say them irresistible, and then laws against saying them will be easily passed, because people will see such laws as trivial because they merely ban what hardly anyone says anymore. The single most powerful way to protect freedom of expression is to exercise it. There are only two genders. Trans women are men. Men should not compete against women in women’s sport. Men should not be permitted in women’s only spaces. So-called gender reassignment is bodily mutilation. Confusion is not reality. Encouraging confused and traumatised people to mutilate themselves is not love. Speak now or forever have your tongue bound.

[Bruce Herbert ブルース @brherb]

@coldxman Smart in school, dumb on the bus..

[Kirralie Smith @KirralieS]

This coming weekend the Flying Bats will take on West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook FC.

Will @footballnsw & WPHCFC continue to humiliate women by forcing them to play against males in a female competition?

Do they even know what a female is? I think they do....

[Bruce Herbert ブルース @brherb]

@michael_nielsen

[Bruce Herbert ブルース @brherb]

@Anthonywodillon I read Dark Emu hoping it would enlighten me on a history I didn’t know, but found it thoroughly unconvincing.

[Bruce Herbert ブルース @brherb]

@GrayConnolly @LucyTurnbull_AO Serious question from a supporter. How much can be attributed to the takeover of some (many?) Liberal party branches by property developer types?

[Bruce Herbert ブルース @brherb]

@GrayConnolly Ouch. Admiring the problem is easier than fixing it, which is why so many do it.

[Bruce Herbert ブルース @brherb]

This…

[Anthony Dillon @Anthonywodillon]

"“Aboriginal kids deserve to be able to play safely, free from racism and abuse over the fence,” Betts wrote." Agreed 100%. Bet let's be real. Who are Aboriginal kids/youth/adults more likely to be insulted, assaulted, and hurt by?

[Bruce Herbert ブルース @brherb]

@abcnews Why isn’t @abcnews reporting the actual result?