Episode 81: Trans people in sport - Cleo Madeleine of Gendered Intelligence
Should trans women compete as women at an elite level of sport?
The Right's Culture War (TM) has used this question as a wedge issue, targeting trans people as pawns in a larger game. But who is more often hurt as a result of the targeted rhetoric (and the unthinking regurgitation by ordinary Joe Schmoes)? How new is the phenomenon of gender-nonconforming people taking centre court, and what should Christians of good faith think about this issue?
Cleo Madeleine is a campaigner, historiographer, academic, educator, trans woman, Christian and spokesperson for Gendered Intelligence - the UK's largest trans-led charity.
She joins Malky, Jonty and Laura to talk sport, trans identity, hateful media narratives and why she loves her very-high-Anglican (next-best thing to Catholic) church.
Listen for an opportunity to hear about trans issues from a trans person, about why elite sport decisions affect ordinary people and the joy-stealing hostility faced by trans and gender-nonconforming people right now. But listen mostly because Cleo is funny, smart and cool.
Bonus: you can also hear Jonty, Laura and Malky each screw up in their own unique way (starting with Jonts being an idiot and using the wrong name for Cleo)(No, really)(Nightmare).
Spoiler: We are all cancelled now.
Beer Christianity talks identity, faith and, in a demonstration of how much we love our trans, intersex, gender-fluid and non-binary siblings, Sportz.
You can listen to Episode 81 anywhere: at the beginning of a journey of inclusion, worried you’re gonna say the wrong thing; on a couch while watching sporty sportpeople do sports good; or joyfully lounging in a jacuzzi of gender fluid. You can find it on all major podcast platforms and, of course, right here:
Check out Gendered Intelligence’s site for details of their campaigns, education services and opportunities to support their work.
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