FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kelowna, BC January 9, 2025
The Vancouver Island University (VIU) women’s basketball team made a courageous stand by boycotting their upcoming PACWEST games at Columbia Bible College (CBC). This decision comes in response to CBC’s coach and players’ targeted harassment and discrimination against their transgender teammate, Harriette Mackenzie. VIU currently leads the PACWEST standings, is demanding not just respect for their teammate but systemic accountability and change.
This situation is a stark reminder of the transphobia and misogyny that persist in women’s sports—specifically, trans misogyny, the intersection of transphobia and sexism targeting trans women. It’s a prejudice that also invalidates their identities while perpetuating the harmful idea that trans women threaten the fairness of women’s sports. The Myth of “Fairness”
Opponents of trans inclusion often claim that trans women hold an inherent physical advantage. This argument is not only scientifically shaky but deeply rooted in fear and misinformation. Sports organizations like the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) have strict guidelines, including monitoring hormone levels, to ensure equitable competition. Athletes like Harriette Mackenzie meet or even exceed these requirements, often competing at a physical disadvantage compared to cisgender athletes.
“The argument that banning trans women protects women’s sports harms all women—cis and trans alike,” according to Darrien McWatters, vice president of Advocacy Canada. “Women come in all shapes and sizes, with varying physical attributes like height, weight, and muscle composition. No athlete is built the same. Singling out trans women based on perceived differences perpetuates harmful stereotypes about what a “real” woman should look like, undermining the very concept of equity in sport.”
Why Trans Inclusion Strengthens Women’s Sports
Excluding trans women from sports not only violates human rights laws like British Columbia’s Human Rights Code but also creates a toxic environment that erodes the very principles of teamwork, respect, and fairness that sports aim to uphold. This discrimination signals to trans women that they are unwelcome, and sends a chilling message to cisgender women who don’t conform to traditional gender norms that they might be next.
Trans inclusion, on the other hand, fosters diversity and resilience within teams. It reflects the real world, where success stems from collaboration and mutual respect, not fear and exclusion.
Holding PACWEST and CBC Accountable
VIU’s call for PACWEST to relocate the Provincial Championships from CBC is a critical step toward ensuring safe and inclusive sports environments. Harriette Mackenzie’s experiences highlight the urgent need for stronger policies and enforcement against transphobia. PACWEST must act by:
1. Publicly condemning discrimination in all forms.
2. Mandating gender inclusion training for athletes and staff.
3. Enforcing consequences for discriminatory behavior.
4. Supporting trans athletes with robust protections.
We stand with the VIU women’s basketball team and Harriette Mackenzie in their fight for justice and inclusion. Their courage reminds us that sports’ integrity depends on creating spaces where everyone can thrive. Advocacy Canada’s president, Wilbur Turner states “Trans inclusion isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s a reflection of the fairness and respect that sports should embody. We demand better-better from PACWEST, better from CBC, and better from ourselves as a society. The message is clear: trans women are women, and they belong—in sports, in schools, and in every facet of life.”
About Advocacy Canada
Advocacy Canada is committed to defending the rights and dignity of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community through advocacy, education, and community engagement.
Media Contact
Amber Hall, Director of Communications
Email: communications@advocacy-canada.lgbt
