#70: Become an ally to trans and gender diverse martial artists

Leading up to International Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, people and organizations around the world participate in Transgender Awareness Week to help raise awareness of trans and gender diverse people, address key issues for our communities and explore ways to promote active allyship. We hope that through promoting the full inclusion of trans and gender diverse people in martial arts, we can break down stigma and reduce barriers to participation for our wonderful communities.

Transgender Day of Remembrance honours the memory of trans lives lost due to transphobia and the impacts of discrimination. You can find out more about this here: https://tdor.org.au/

In this episode, Penny McKay (she/they) and Pharrell Shaymar (he/him) answer:

• What does it mean to be an ally?
• What do the terms "trans" and "gender diverse" mean?
• What happens when we include vs when we don't include trans and gender diverse people?
• What are the impacts on mental health on trans people when they are excluded from martial arts?
• How can martial arts/sports benefit trans people, mentally and emotionally?
• What are the very best and very worst things you've seen coaches do around LGBTQ+ inclusion?
• Being inclusive by words instead of actually taking accountability, what is the difference? And how can an ally support the community that shows inclusivity?
• Where does being trauma-informed fit into this topic? Do coaches need to be trauma informed to be inclusive?
• What language and framing is useful in addressing transphobia? E.g. if a gym member is casually repeating TERF talking points, how can coaches approach it constructively and minimise defensiveness?
• How can we work with instructors that refuse to include trans women in women’s only classes?
• What advice do you have for parents/Guardians who aren't understanding of non binary and trans within facilities ?
• How do you manage staff and or parents who aren't accepting and inclusive?
• What is 1 actionable step for martial arts coaches and practitioners to implement this week?

Content warning: Please note this discussion may include topics which are distressing - please take good care and link in your own support networks or the organizations below if you need.

All things trans including language guides: https://www.transhub.org.au/

Young people and their families https://transcend.org.au/

Transgender Victoria https://tgv.org.au/

Pride in Sport www.prideinsport.com.au

Queer Combat Collective on instagram

QLife - 3pm to midnight every day: https://qlife.org.au/

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Rainbow Door: https://www.rainbowdoor.org.au/

13YARN - First Nations Crisis support

To contact Penny on Instagram: @voiceofsmallchange

To contact Pharrell on Instagram: @pharrell_shaymar

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Thank you so much to Nari for the beautiful song "Shape Me" heard at the beginning and end of this episode. Nari wrote this song about Shape Your Life, a boxing program for self-identified female survivors of violence in Canada. She wrote this song using the words and experiences shared by participants with Cathy Van Ingen. You can find out more about Shape Your Life in my interview with Cathy in Episode 8. You can hear more of Nari's work by going to her Instagram: @narithesaga