My Derby Diary

[lovelivejustbreathe]

[projectqueer]

November 10, 2015 | WFTDA.com

(PHOTO CREDIT/SOURCE)

The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) is releasing a statement, endorsed by its member leagues, that creates broad discrimination protections within the organization for individuals who identify as transgender, intersex or gender expansive and definitively allows trans women, intersex women and gender expansive athletes to participate and compete within the WFTDA. It states that the WFTDA “is committed to inclusive and anti-discrimination practices in relation to all transgender women, intersex women, and gender expansive participants, and aims to ensure that all skaters’, volunteers’, and employees’ rights are respected and protected.”

In regard to athlete participation, it states: 

“An individual who identifies as a trans woman, intersex woman, and/or gender expansive may skate with a WFTDA charter team if women’s flat track roller derby is the version and composition of roller derby with which they most closely identify. … The gender identity of any and all WFTDA participants is considered confidential and private.”

In 2011 when the WFTDA first adopted a policy that was inclusive of many transgender athletes, it was the most progressive standard of any sport at that time. However, members of the athlete-run organization, along with society as a whole, have become more educated about gender identity in recent years. WFTDA members felt that the old policy, which included references to trans women athletes’ hormone levels, had the potential to exclude and discriminate, and therefore did not reflect the WFTDA’s values.

“The roller derby community has always been a space where people are allowed to just be themselves. Our members grew to feel that our 2011 policy did not accurately reflect our inclusive culture and our values,” WFTDA Secretary Michelle Donnelly (Eduskating Rita) said. “We also needed to thoughtfully develop new standards, respecting our identity and history as a women’s sport run by women. After a lot of thoughtful discussion, our members wholeheartedly embraced this new statement.”

The WFTDA will also update its bylaws to incorporate these values.

CLICK THE HEADER LINK TO READ THE FULL STATEMENT.

[lolderby]

Credit: Danny Ngan

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[projectqueer]

How to Support Your Trans Teammate

Gut-Her Punk shares a few tips on how to make your trans teammates feel welcome and supported.

[eastsidederbygirls]

WFTDA Hand Signals in Gifs, Part 2: Penalties

So many penalties. Your disclaimer section, same as the first: - These are meant as helpful visual aids, not the de facto absolute way you must do a hand signal. For specifics, you should always refer...

Time Out Tuesday! What is that hand signal from the ref? Why am I getting a time out in the penalty box? Here’s some hand signals to help you out! 

[awesome-picz]

Cats Who Just Realized You Took Them To The Vet

[grimmscarytales]

Ha should have taken a picture of my cat at vets last week, who squeezed himself into the tiny space between the counters and the wall after skulking around the rest of the room looking for somewhere to hide.

[whitmeyer]

I am amazed by the flying photos, and I wish I could show young me.  I would tell her that at 28 it will pay off to be twice the size of everyone, to be a heavy human, to be intimidating and unwilling to cower, to never shut up, to be bossy, to be bold and defiant, and to get aggressive with teaching your body things. So much gratitude.

[phantomphotographics]

[noxblogs]

10 types of roller derby beginner

So you’re thinking of joining a roller derby team; but not sure what to expect? We’re exploring the 10 most common profile types to help you feel at ease! Read more

What kind of beginner are/were you?

[helzbelz-138]

making excuses doesn’t make you a better roller derby player

[fitnesstipsonly]

[fitnesstipsonly]

[thehappyprojectblog]

Remember to challenge yourself to be a better person every day.

[thewhip]

L.A. Junior Derby Dolls, photos by Marshall Garlington

[mostbeautifuldarling]

[southerneclair]

She wanted to skate late at night. “Things aren’t going well at home,” she said. So on the concrete that was still burning from the day’s excessive heat advisory, we went round and round until I made her laugh so hard she fell down. “Yeah, I’ll skate with you to help you handle the difficulties of life,” I told her. That’s a thing derby people know how to do.

[dear-monday]

Double Threat Skates, London.