Family First National Director and NSW Legislative Council candidate Lyle Shelton has welcomed today's landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court upholding laws protecting girls' and women's sport from biological males.
The ruling confirms that states are entitled to reserve female sporting competitions for biological females, recognising that fairness and safety are legitimate public interests.
Mr Shelton said the decision vindicated what Family First had argued consistently for years.
"This is a great day for girls and women. It is a victory for common sense, biological reality and basic fairness.
"For too long, politicians, sporting bodies and activist groups have attempted to erase the differences between men and women, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that male puberty confers enduring physical advantages."
Mr Shelton said Family First would continue its long-standing commitment to legislate in New South Wales to ensure biological males could not compete in girls' and women's sporting competitions.
Mr Shelton renewed his call for the Governor General Sam Mostyn to relinquish her patronage of Equality Australia, a political lobby group protecting biological males competing in girls' and women's sports.
"If Family First wins representation in the NSW and Victorian Parliaments at up-coming elections, protecting girls' and women's sport will remain one of our legislative priorities.
"Women and girls deserve sporting competitions where they can compete on equal terms, win fairly and participate without unnecessary safety risks.
"Every thinking parent expects this for their daughters."
Mr Shelton welcomed the clarity provided by Justice Clarence Thomas in his concurring judgment and urged Australian politicians to take note.
"Justice Thomas stated the obvious truth that much of the political class has been too frightened to say: 'A man does not have a legal right to compete against women just because he believes he is a woman.'"
Mr Shelton also welcomed Justice Thomas' observation that:
"Men and boys with gender dysphoria are not women and girls, even if they believe that they are."
"These statements simply recognise biological reality. Public policy should be grounded in truth, not ideology."
Mr Shelton said the judgment also highlighted how out of step Australia had become.
"While America's highest court is restoring legal recognition of biological reality, Australian women like Kirralie Smith have faced years of lawfare simply for defending girls' and women's sport and speaking the truth."
Kirralie Smith, spokesperson for Binary Australia, has endured lengthy legal proceedings after criticising biological males competing in women's soccer competitions and even been ordered to pay $90.000 in damages to biological men. Family First has consistently supported her and argued that Australia's anti-discrimination and anti-vilification laws have been weaponised to silence legitimate public debate.
"No Australian should face financial ruin or years in court for saying that women's sport should be for women.
"The treatment of Kirralie Smith demonstrates why freedom of speech and the rights of women must be defended together."
Mr Shelton said the decision should prompt Australian governments and sporting organisations to repudiate LGBTQA+ gender fluid ideology which is driving unfairness in girls' and women's sports.
Contact details:
