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ICONS: women athletes say "enough is enough" to transgender participation in women's categories

Paula Scanlan announces her adhesion to the movement, which will hold an international congress in July to analyze the legal and scientific situation of women's sport.

Montaje con varias de las caras visibles de ICONS, Riley Gaines, Paula Scanlan y Martina Navratilova.

(Flickr/Captura de Vídeo/Voz Media)

Published by
Israel Duro

A growing contingent of female athletes has come together to challenge the participation of transgender athletes in the women's categories. The latest to announce she is joining the Independent Council on Women's Sports (ICONS), founded and led by Riley Gaines, is trans swimmer Lia Thomas' former teammate Paula Scanlan. Scanlan, who was featured in the documentary 'What Is A Woman' without revealing her identity, has just come forward in a further interview with Matt Walsh.

"Every voice counts"

Scanlan made the announcement Tuesday while supporting a group of female runners harmed by competing against trans athletes in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. In a video, the former swimmer has invited all female athletes to join the movement because "every voice counts" to explain "why women's sports matters" and denounce the fact that women are forced to compete against men.

ICONS, which presents itself as a "network of women athletes and supporters in defense of protected female categories in sport," has organized an international congress in Denver to analyze the reality of women's sport, its future, and what athletes can do to defend their rights. The International Women's Sports Summit, to be held in July, will be attended by prominent athletes and former athletes, as well as scientists and experts in sports law from around the world.

Navratilova and several Olympic champions, with ICONS

Since its creation, ICONS has counted with the participation of sports legends such as former tennis player Martina Navratilova; former swimmer Donna de Varona, winner of an Olympic gold medal and sprinter Benita Fitzgerald Brown, who also managed to reach the top of the podium during the Olympic Games. Its major accomplishments includes the filing of an Amicus Brief to the Supreme Court with the signatures of 67 female athletes in favor of Save Sport's Women laws.

These athletes come from many  levels  of  playing, from elementary  school to collegiate;  from  professional  to  Olympic.  No  matter their  level  of  accomplishment,  their  years  in  their chosen  sport,  or  their  age –some  minors  and  some adults –all  have  been  forced to compete against males or   to   suffer   the   psychological   impact   of helplessly  watching  the  forced  competition  of  men against women.

Hearing in the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals for 'Save Women's Sports.'

On Wednesday, Alliance Defending Freedom attended a hearing at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to assist several athletes who were forced to compete against men and in defense of Save Women's Sports laws.

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