On the United Nations.

October 25, 2024

I spoke at the United Nations today.

I joined a panel of “rights-holders” who were cis, trans, non-binary, and intersex. People who have competed at the elite and community level, people who have been barred from competition because of their naturally occurring biology, and people who come from nations where being openly queer or trans can lead to death.

We spoke in support of a report from the UN Special Rapporteur in the field of Cultural Rights, which outlined key recommendations to diplomats on how to ensure that the codified human right to participate in sport is upheld in their member states.

Almost simultaneously, a report from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls was released that referred to trans women participating in sport as the single greatest threat to the safety of cis women globally.

Although Special Rapporteurs are meant to be impartial, this specific individual publicly refused to acknowledge submissions from the various LGBTQ+ advocacy organization fighting for inclusion and instead referenced only lies and venom from trans exclusionary hate groups.

I will let my words speak for themselves, but to any rational human being, it should be clear that none of this is truly about sports. It is absolutely about eradicating our existence and removing us from public life, because us as trans people are the greatest threat to the systems of privilege that cage us all.

I get asked constantly why I continue to expend so much energy speaking out and educating people about my humanity. “Wouldn’t it be better if you just logged off and ignored what is going on?” they say to me, as they bear witness to the weight of it all crushing me to the point of frequent mental collapse.

The reality is that the only thing that prevents me from sinking below the surface for good are opportunities like these that give me some semblance of power as a powerless member of our society.

It doesn’t matter if no one listens — I am at peace knowing that I spoke loudly and proudly for those of us whose voices are so often ignored.