New Campaign Addresses Growing Exclusion in Athletics
The Dutch advocacy group Transgender Netwerk has launched a new public awareness campaign, 'Bemoei je met je eigen zaakje' (Mind Your Own Business), to address the increasing exclusion of transgender individuals from sports competitions. The initiative aims to reframe the public conversation around inclusion, fairness, and the basis on which athletes are categorized.
The campaign comes in response to a trend where national and international sports federations have implemented policies that restrict or completely bar the participation of transgender athletes, particularly trans women. While these organizations often cite concerns over competitive fairness and refer to scientific research, Transgender Netwerk contends that many of these decisions are influenced more by political pressure than by conclusive scientific consensus.
A Personal Story: The Case of Noa-Lynn van Leuven
A central element of the campaign is an in-depth interview with Dutch dart player Noa-Lynn van Leuven. Her career was directly impacted in 2024 when a policy change by the World Darts Federation suddenly excluded her from the women's competition. Her story provides a clear, personal example of the real-world consequences these policies have on athletes' lives and careers.
"Sport should be a place where pleasure and inclusion are central," the organization stated in its announcement. The campaign uses Van Leuven's experience to illustrate how current policies can lead to what they describe as unfounded exclusion.
Questioning the Current System
Beyond the immediate issue of trans inclusion, 'Mind Your Own Business' also raises broader questions about the rigid ways athletes are currently classified. The campaign argues that the strict division based on narrow definitions of 'men' and 'women' is outdated and can be harmful. It points to the history of invasive sex testing for female athletes as an example of how these systems can put athletes in uncomfortable situations and reduce their identity to purely physical traits.
As an alternative, Transgender Netwerk suggests that sports could explore more equitable systems for creating competitive categories, such as classifications based on specific metrics like strength, weight class, or speed, which are already used in some sports.
How to Follow the Campaign
To support its message, the campaign will feature a series of videos released on Transgender Netwerk's social media channels over the coming weeks. A dedicated page on their website now serves as a hub for information, sources, and the full interview with Noa-Lynn van Leuven.
You can find more information on the official Transgender Netwerk website and follow their updates on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
