It's kind of intriguing that so many men, and boys, feel violent sexual exploitation of women, and girls, is so much a part of an archaic macho-manly thing, yet a transgender boy is not allowed to compete against boys in so many cases.
Life is difficult for transgender girl athletes too.
Transgender footballer Hannah Mouncey ruled ineligible for 2018 AFLW draft
Updated 18 Oct 2017, 9:03am
Video: Hannah Mouncey ineligible for draft (ABC News)
[Safe Schools was/is a controversial 'anti-bullying' program in Australian schools. This article is included only for Cate's thoughts on the difficulties transgenders have, rather than for her personal thoughts on that program.]
Catherine McGregor
May 19, 2016 12:00am
On Tuesday, I woke in an Adelaide hotel room overlooking the Adelaide Oval. Apart from Trent Bridge in Nottingham, Adelaide is my favourite ground in the world.
It has a particular significance for me because on Australia Day 2012, both Ricky Ponting and I were awarded the Order of Australia.
It should have been the proudest day of my life. But I was in pretty bad shape. You see I was suffering from a condition known as gender dysphoria, which is defined by the medical profession as acute distress caused by feeling that my gender differs from the anatomy I was born with. The official diagnostic manual describes the symptoms of the condition.
Trust me, it is extremely distressing and it does not go away. Many choose suicide to escape the incessant internal dialogue and intense feelings. Others choose to transition gender to bring their physical body into alignment with how they feel. I chose this latter course, though I went pretty close to taking an overdose of sleeping pills at my hotel on the evening of that agonising Australia Day.
Introduction by [ex-]Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott - Lt Col. Cate McGregor AM has been a participant in some of the most significant chapters in recent Australian history.
She has been a political strategist for both the ALP and the Liberal Party.
In her current role as a senior Army officer, she wrote last year's landmark speech by the Chief of the Army David Morrison which went viral around the world.
Now, she is the most high profile individual in Australia to 'come out' as a transgendered person.
When, after decades of private struggle, Malcolm finally decided to become Cate she was 'terrified' about the likely reaction from friends and colleagues.
Prime Minister Abbott, Army Chief David Morrison, Liberal pollster Mark Textor and political journalist Barrie Cassidy are among a range of high profile individuals who speak candidly about Cate's transformation and its impact on them.
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