Subject: WER Sponsorship feedback

Hello,

I’m reaching out regarding your partnership with Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) - I’m a fan and a prospective future player in the league, and wanted to bring something to your attention as a group that’s currently supporting WER.

A few months ago, WER implemented a new policy that bans trans women from all forms of participation. Trans players had already been drafted, and in some cases, moved across the country to play for their selected team. They’d committed to playing, given up other opportunities, and rearranged their lives around their decision to participate. A personal friend and teammate of mine was among the impacted players, and the decision had a massively detrimental impact on her mental health. The league’s behavior towards her, and those supporting her, has been blatantly discriminatory. WER has gone far beyond simple compliance, and their behavior constitutes a deep betrayal of our women’s rugby community.

Our community wants trans women to remain on the field - player surveys have shown that an overwhelming majority of(>92%) of WER players do not support the ban, and other levels of play from college to club-level have been extremely vocal in their support for trans players.

On behalf of the fans and the affected players, I am asking you to act upon our shared values of inclusion, and join us in advocating for the reversal of the anti-transgender policies that WER has put in place this year. As a sponsor, you have an incredible power in this situation. It does not need to be public, nor hostile. I am also open to hearing your ideas of how to both speak and act in order to resolve this situation.