Martine Delaney (born 15 October 1957) is an Australian trans rights activist and former soccer player who became the first transgender woman to be inducted into the Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women in 2021. She first rose to prominence in 2005 when she received national press attention after joining a female soccer team following her transition.

Sports career

Prior to her transition, Delaney played in men's soccer teams in Tasmania for twenty-five years.[1][2] In 2005, after her transition, she joined Clarence United, a women's soccer team, becoming the first Australian to play in both men and women's soccer teams.[1][3] A decision made later that year by Soccer Tasmania to permit Delaney to continue to play for the team was subsequently upheld by Football Federation Australia (now Football Australia), the national governing body for the sport.[2] Delaney went on to advise Football Australia and the Australian Football League on the development of trans-inclusive policies.[4][5]

Since retiring from sport, Delaney has continued to advocate for the rights of trans athletes in sport. In 2022, she criticised the global swimming federation FINA for issuing a blanket ban on the participation of trans women in elite swimming competitions, calling their actions an "inherently discriminatory response".[5] Delaney has long been critical of complaints that trans female athletes have enhanced muscle mass compared to their biological female counterparts, citing the impact of regular oestrogen use as negating such advantages.[2][5]

Activism

In 2003, Delaney joined the Equal Rights Network (ERN) and subsequently became an active member of the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group (now known as Equality Tasmania).[6][4] She has also served as a board member of Working It Out.[6] Delaney is also a member of Tasmania Police's LGBT reference group.[7][6]

Since 2004, Delaney has called on Tasmanian politicians to change the state's legal recognition of gender, and in 2017 co-founded Transforming Tasmania which advocates for trans right on a state level.[6][8][9] In 2018, she called on the Tasmanian government to end mandatory divorce in cases when one spouse legally changed their gender.[8]

In 2019, the Tasmanian government passed legislation that made the inclusion of gender on birth certificates optional, alongside permitting people over the age of 16 the right to change their registered gender without the requirement of first undergoing gender affirmation surgery.[7][10]

On a national level in 2006, Delaney began lobbying the Australian government to reform gender markers on Australian passports. In 2011, she worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs to review passport regulations, which led to trans people having their chosen gender represented on their travel documents.[11][12] Delaney also advocated for marriage equality, and was a founding member of both the Australian Coalition for Equality and Australian Marriage Equality.[6][4] Same-sex marriage was ultimately legalised in Australia in 2017.[13]

Politics

In 2015, Delaney announced her intention to become Australia's first transgender federal politician as a candidate for the Division of Franklin within the House of Representatives; she was endorsed by the Greens.[14] Delaney ultimately placed third, with 9,293 votes (13.35% of the total vote), losing out to the Labor incumbent Julie Collins; this represented a 1.17% increase in the Green vote share.[15]

Writing

Delaney co-wrote two episodes for the second season of the children's drama series First Day. The show, which follows a 12-year-old trans girl navigating her first year of high school, has won an International Emmy Award and the Rose d'Or.[16][17]

As a journalist, Delaney has written for The Guardian and The Mercury.[18][19]

Recognition

In 2013, Delaney was recognised as a "human book" by the Hobart Human Library. Entitled Sex Change Soccer Star Cyber Tranny Granny, it recognised her "courage and resilience" and her role in raising the visibility of trans people in Tasmania.[1]

In 2021, Delaney was inducted into the Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women for services to "human rights; justice and corrections; community advocacy and inclusion; and sport and recreation". She was the first trans woman to be an inductee.[7][4]

Personal life

Delaney transitioned in 2003. As of 2013, she lives with her partner and daughter in Tasmania.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Raabus, Carol; Spargo, Jo (25 October 2013). "Meet Tasmania's sex change soccer star cyber tranny granny". ABC Local. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 "Sex change decision sets precedent". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 June 2005. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  3. ↑ Thranesen, Tina. "Martine Delaney". Vidensbanken om kønsidentitet (in Danish). Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Roychowdhury, Swagatalakshmi (19 March 2021). "Trans Activist Martine Delaney Inducted Into Tasmanian Honour Roll Of Women". Star Observer. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 "'Trans Swim Ban Not the Answer'". Tasmanian Times. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Martine Delaney Added to Tasmanian Women's Honour Roll". Tasmanian Times. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 "'We've come a hell of a long way': Transgender woman humbled by recognition for community service". ABC News. 13 March 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  8. 1 2 Inglis, Rob (28 June 2018). "Tasmania looks at an end to forced divorce law". The Islander. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  9. ↑ "Tasmania could become first state to remove gender from birth certificates". SBS News. 24 October 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  10. ↑ Chudy, Emily (27 July 2022). "Miriam Margolyes shares first-ever Pride march, proving it's never too late". Pink News. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  11. ↑ "Transsexual Aussies like new passport changes". The Courier Mail. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  12. ↑ "Sex change on passports for transsexuals". Stuff. 15 September 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  13. ↑ "Marriage Equality Campaign Timeline and Reflections". The Commons. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  14. ↑ "Martine Delaney launches bid to be first Australian transgender federal politician". The Guardian. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  15. ↑ "Franklin, TAS". Australian Electoral Commission. 20 July 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  16. ↑ Delaney, Martine (14 June 2022). "Authentic Storytelling – Martine Delaney: walking the talk". Screen Australia. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  17. ↑ Keast, Jackie (4 April 2022). "For Julie Kalceff, the second season of 'First Day' takes the story to new level". If. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  18. ↑ Delaney, Martine (8 April 2019). "How Tasmania is going from worst to best on transgender human rights". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  19. ↑ Delaney, Martine (1 October 2015). "Talking Point: Booklet makes me feel my family is inferior". The Mercury. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
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