WFTDA Gender Statement Clarification Update

The WFTDA Board of Directors has approved the following clarification to our Gender Statement. Despite the US administration’s newest Executive Order, we are committed to maintaining the inclusivity of our sport and are proceeding with this clarification as planned. WFTDA and our legal counsel will continue to monitor the situation and its impact on our gender policy and leagues. We will hold an emergency membership meeting in the coming weeks to discuss how the WFTDA can continue to operate in alignment with this clarified gender statement, hear what challenges members are dealing with in this political climate, and offer a space to share resources and discuss ways WFTDA can support members.

The updated gender statement, found at https://resources.wftda.org/wftda-statement-about-gender/, reads as follows:

Any individual of a Marginalized Gender, regardless of presentation or the gender they were assigned at birth, is welcomed and encouraged to participate in the WFTDA in any capacity, including skating on a WFTDA charter or holding elected office. Participation as a volunteer or employee is open to individuals of all genders. Marginalized Genders, by their nature, are constantly evolving and changing, so attempting to include an exhaustive list would limit the scope of this policy.

At the time of writing, the WFTDA considers the following to be examples of Marginalized Genders:

• Women (the WFTDA uses women to refer to all women, including trans, cis, intersex, and gender-expansive women)
• Individuals with gender identities belonging to the trans umbrella (i.e. those whose gender does not align with the gender they were assigned at birth). This includes, but is not limited to:
  • trans men
  • transfeminine, and transmasculine individuals
  • those who are genderqueer, agender, genderfluid and/or non-binary regardless of their presentation or the gender they have been assigned at birth
• Individuals with culturally specific genders such as Two-Spirit
• Intersex individuals, who perceive themselves as belonging to a Marginalized Gender
• Any combination of the above (or other) Marginalized Genders

This list is not exhaustive and will be updated as needed.

The WFTDA does not and will not differentiate between members regardless of presentation and identity, and does not and will not set minimum standards of femininity or androgyny for its membership, or interfere with the privacy of its members for the purposes of eligibility. These activities include, but are not limited to, membership eligibility, disbursement of resources, and eligibility for office. The WFTDA is committing to do the work necessary to provide a truly inclusive and welcoming environment for all in our community who share this vision of equity and equality.

The gender identity of any and all WFTDA participants is considered confidential and private until such time, place, and capacity in which the individual wishes to disclose it.

WFTDA Members, make sure your league is on the WFTDA Online Community to participate in this and other important discussions. Find instructions to add/update your league’s representatives at https://resources.wftda.org/wftda-online-community/.