New 'gender diversity' guidelines for Australian Surf Life Saving Clubs have raised fears the organization is being 'hijacked by activists'.
The draft “Diverse Gender Factsheet for Surf Life Saving Clubs” details how the organization should instruct members to “retrain your brain” to avoid addressing people based on their biological gender.
The guidelines say volunteers should advocate for the rights of gender diverse people and clubs should have more 'gender neutral' spaces and unisex toilets.
“Avoid making assumptions or asking invasive questions about a person's gender identity, expression or history,” the guidelines say.
New 'gender diverse' guidelines for Australian Surf Life Saving Clubs have drawn criticism (stock image)
The new draft 'Diverse Gender Factsheet for Surf Life Saving Clubs' details how gender diversity can become inclusive
'Advocate for the rights and needs of gender diverse people in all communities.'
The document suggests that members apologize if they accidentally use the wrong pronouns when addressing someone.
“It can take a lot of practice to retrain your brain, especially if you knew someone with a different name or gender before transitioning, so try to practice when you are alone or in your head,” it says.
Members of Surf Life Saving Australia have raised concerns about the new guidelines, suggesting instead that clubs should focus on their core purpose: keeping Australians safe in the water.
“The movement has been hijacked by woke Americanism – from a quintessential Australian organization focused solely on volunteer work to save lives, around camaraderie, to this progressive agenda,” an anonymous surf lifesaver said. The Daily Telegraph.
'Saying that you have to retrain your brain is outrageous.'
The new guidelines say volunteers should advocate for the rights of gender diverse people and that clubs should have more 'gender neutral' spaces and unisex toilets (stock image)
Several volunteers have spoken out against the changes, with one suggesting the organization had been 'hijacked by activists' (stock image)
Another long-term volunteer said many members are “glowing” about the proposed changes.
“Ideological activist language is being used,” he said.
'What concerns me is the potential impact this could have on the safety and privacy standards traditionally maintained in sport, especially in evolving areas where women and children are most vulnerable.'
The member said the document appears to propose changes that could allow “unaccompanied men unfettered access to women's changing areas.”
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce explained the document had been developed in consultation with all states and territories.
“With the changing needs and expectations of the community, it is imperative for us to ensure that we are inclusive to all persons, identify as any gender and cover the non-binary gender divide,” he said.
“Of our approximately 76,000 members, we only have about 20 members on our administration who identify as non-binary.
Women's advocate Katherine Deves (pictured) has spoken out against the controversial new guidelines
“In NSW we actively promote ourselves as an inclusive organisation.”
He said the issue of “providing the gender category of non-binary will be a challenge for many surf clubs.”
Women's advocate Katherine Deves said police speeches and “pretending sex doesn't exist” are inconsistent with the idea of community participation in saving lives online.
Rachel Wong, CEO of Women's Forum Australia, raised concerns that female members may not feel comfortable sharing changing rooms and toilets with biological males.
“And how engaged will little girls be when they're pushed out of their competitions by boys who identify as girls?” she said.