Commentators LGBTQ Comments

[LEC]

Not sure if anyone has seen this but I think horse riding is the most equal sport out there and who cares how you identify. You shouldn’t have to have people making personal comments as you ride. Especially as this person sponsors shows.

Haydie Bird

All I want to do is be able to Ride with Pride It was disheartening, disgusting and disappointing to replay and listen to the comments made by the Announcer during my round from the Livestream of...

www.facebook.com

 

[Rowreach]

Omg that is awful. Do you know the outcome?

We have a huge debate going on across sport (including the other one I'm involved in) regarding trans people competing, and different organisations have different approaches (I frequently butt heads with colleagues on the subject) but equestrian sport is the one area that really has it made in terms of accommodating everyone, because it already happens!

I hope heads roll over this.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Must be utterly heart breaking for her - totally unacceptable, yet sadly unsurprising.

Equestrianism is one of the few sports where this really shouldn't be any consideration at all.

 

[SEL]

That sounds like the absolute worst locker room disgusting behaviour. How awful for her.

I hope someone gets the sack for this.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

Need an angry or vomit react, that's abhorrent.

 

[ycbm]

Bloody ignorant dinosaurs.
.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

I don't get it. Good horse(wo)manship and good riding isn't effected by what is or is not between someone's legs. If the commentator is too stupid to know that they shouldn't be commentating equestrian events anyway.

 

[Kunoichi73]

Must be utterly heart breaking for her - totally unacceptable, yet sadly unsurprising.

Equestrianism is one of the few sports where this really shouldn't be any consideration at all.

It's disgusting. It certainly shouldn't be an issue in any sport in which males and females compete together. Ignoring the arguments about competitive sport, comments about anyone's clothes, appearance and genitals are totally unacceptable.

 

[LEC]

Omg that is awful. Do you know the outcome?

We have a huge debate going on across sport (including the other one I'm involved in) regarding trans people competing, and different organisations have different approaches (I frequently butt heads with colleagues on the subject) but equestrian sport is the one area that really has it made in terms of accommodating everyone, because it already happens!

I hope heads roll over this.

I read the UK Sport work into it and it said each individual sport needs to decide what approach they want to take. Each individual sport needs to decide if they protect the female category so have female and open or they want true inclusion. Equestrian is one which can have true inclusion.

 

[Rowreach]

Equestrian Australia are “working with Equestrian Queensland on appropriate action”.

I hope it’s swift.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Equestrian Australia are “working with Equestrian Queensland on appropriate action”.

I hope it’s swift.

Let’s hope that it’s more than a refresher course on operating a mic when doing commentary .

Is the commentator a big cheese?

 

[ycbm]

One of the few sports where men and women compete on completely equal terms and they've sullied it. Shame on them.

I thought Haydie's comment was pretty mild and extremely well written and I hope it makes those blokes feel throughly ashamed of themselves.
.

 

[Rowreach]

Let’s hope that it’s more than a refresher course on operating a mic when doing commentary .

Is the commentator a big cheese?

Three of them involved. Apparently the instigator is “remorseful”. They usually are when they get caught out.

 

[Snowfilly]

Urgh.

I come to this as a trans person, who competes (occasionally only now!) in various horse sports and it is utterly heartbreaking but not at all surprising.

equine sports are completely and utterly level and as such, there is absolutely no need for anyone to bring gender into it; no need for it to be discussed whatsoever.

I am so sorry for her. That is a normal and common level of cruelty that we have to put up but it doesn’t mean that it’s right or fair.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

When you think about it, it's bloody weird to be commenting on the genitalia of a stranger anyway.

 

[SEL]

When you think about it, it's bloody weird to be commenting on the genitalia of a stranger anyway.

It's grim

I couldn't help thinking I bet when the microphone is off there are all kinds of derogatory comments about competitors. It'll be the females ones I suspect but a trans lady competing gives them a whole new avenue of despicable comments. That kind of behaviour doesn't come out of the blue

 

[FieldOrnaments]

It just strikes me as the priorities are backwards. All sorts of abusive riding - blue tongues, tack malfunctions etc - is let slip by commentators but what's in the riders breeches, oh no, couldn't let that one go. Even though horses definitely do not care, it's one thing that's so wonderful about them. They are completely free of judgment and prejudice and don't care what a person is or how they present so long as they are kind to them. The world would be a better place if humans had horses attitude to people's differences.

 

[daffy44]

Appalling. Its one of the best things about equestrian sport, the equality among riders, a place where gender genuinely doesnt matter, and to have some moron do this is disgusting.

 

[Snowfilly]

When you think about it, it's bloody weird to be commenting on the genitalia of a stranger anyway.

I’ve told people that what’s between my legs is only their concern if 1) we’re interested in sleeping together 2) they are providing me with medical care 3) they are buying for me or tailoring for me underwear or trousers which needs to fit around said area.

Otherwise, what I’ve got there is immaterial to every single possible conversation about anything.

 

[YourValentine]

Equestrian Australia are “working with Equestrian Queensland on appropriate action”.

I hope it’s swift

Not at all surprised that this was in Australia or Qld. There are some lovely Australians, but as a country its is incredible racist, sexist and bigoted.

They regularly say stuff on commercial radio that would have you taken off air here.

Despite finally legalising gay marriage about 7 years ago in a referendum that the gov only weakly supported, they still have incredibly backward legislation that allows employers to discriminate based on religion and gender.

Latest example: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-67110193
Which was vote simply to give Aboriginal people a voice in parliament. It didn't take away and rights or powers from the existing gov or anyone else, it just meant they would have representation, and they voted against it.

Based on past sport commentators saying totally inappropriate things to women on national TV, the commentators will probably get a slap on the wrist and told to save comments for the bar later or make sure the mic is completely off first.

 

[Rowreach]

Not at all surprised that this was in Australia or Qld. There are some lovely Australians, but as a country its is incredible racist, sexist and bigoted.

They regularly say stuff on commercial radio that would have you taken off air here.

Despite finally legalising gay marriage about 7 years ago in a referendum that the gov only weakly supported, they still have incredibly backward legislation that allows employers to discriminate based on religion and gender.

Latest example: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-67110193
Which was vote simply to give Aboriginal people a voice in parliament. It didn't take away and rights or powers from the existing gov or anyone else, it just meant they would have representation, and they voted against it.

Based on past sport commentators saying totally inappropriate things to women on national TV, the commentators will probably get a slap on the wrist and told to save comments for the bar later or make sure the mic is completely off first.

I wonder if they’ll be able to keep this particular genie in its bottle given the worldwide reaction, the topic being a subject of international debate across sports NGBs, it being an Olympic year, plus the nature of equestrian sport being the most gender equal out there when other sports are desperately trying to seek solutions?

I’m hoping an apology won’t wash this time.

 

[ycbm]

they still have incredibly backward legislation that allows employers to discriminate based on religion and gender.

What!
.

 

[Tallonted]

Not at all surprised that this was in Australia or Qld. There are some lovely Australians, but as a country its is incredible racist, sexist and bigoted.

They regularly say stuff on commercial radio that would have you taken off air here.

Despite finally legalising gay marriage about 7 years ago in a referendum that the gov only weakly supported, they still have incredibly backward legislation that allows employers to discriminate based on religion and gender.

Latest example: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-67110193
Which was vote simply to give Aboriginal people a voice in parliament. It didn't take away and rights or powers from the existing gov or anyone else, it just meant they would have representation, and they voted against it.

Based on past sport commentators saying totally inappropriate things to women on national TV, the commentators will probably get a slap on the wrist and told to save comments for the bar later or make sure the mic is completely off first.

I live in QLD, Australia and unfortunately your comments are so very true. Our country is so backward compared to the UK it's actually really embarassing. There's plenty of 'redneck' thugs that sadly over represent. I have read some of the comments made about Haydie Bird. I don't know why in 2024 we are dealing with such narrow minded bigots.

 

[Fjord]

How awful. Equestrianism is a mixed sport anyway so the gender of the competitor is pretty much irrelevant anyway.

I sometimes think the people who get so bent out of shape about trans people, especially m to f, are just jealous that they can't get a girlfriend as pretty, or are themselves no where near as gorgeous as some of the trans ladies.

 

[Orangehorse]

Its not an issue in equestrian sport. But what terrible comments.

 

[MagicMelon]

Its not an issue in equestrian sport. But what terrible comments.

This. I dont think its an issue in equestrian sport, once you have your hat on and you're all wearing very similar clothes - nobody would particularly know or care anyway. The comments they made are disgraceful no matter what sport it was. Obviously he didnt mean for it to be heard, but for him to make any personal comments about anyone is extremely unprofessional. You'd hope he is never used again!

 

[Snowfilly]

An update on how it should go, as I ventured into the show ring for the first time in a long while:

Absolutely zero comments from judge, steward or other handlers. Conversation veered between the weather, a comment from the judge about my individual show (valid, welcome) and someone offering to lend me a waterproof hat as my cloth cap wasn’t doing it.

Zero hassle, no nasty comments and a nice welcoming atmosphere which would have been better if it wasn’t a monsoon all day.