They zip around the rink, armed with helmets, pads and mouthguards. They push, bump and occasionally crash out as they jostle for position on the hardwood floor.
But for the women of the Long Island Roller Rebels, their biggest battle is taking place outside the suburban strip-mall roller rink where they’re girding for the upcoming roller derby season.
The nearly 20-year-old amateur league is suing a county leader over an executive order meant to prevent women’s and girl’s leagues and teams with transgender players from using county-run parks and fields. The league’s legal effort, backed by the New York Civil Liberties Union, has thrust it into the national discussion over the rights of transgender athletes.
Amanda Urena, the league’s vice president, said there was never any question the group would take a stand.
“The whole point of derby has been to be this thing where people feel welcome,” said the 32-year-old Long Island native, who competes as “Curly Fry” and identifies as queer, at a recent practice at United Skates of America in Seaford. “We want trans women to know that we want you to come play with us, and we’ll do our very best to keep fighting and making sure that this is a safe space for you to play.”
That’s the main reason chess is segregated by gender, though I don’t know if you’d call chess a sport.
I’ve heard that the reason chess (I’d call it a sport, yes) is segregated is the same reason why some e-sports are segregated, to try and promote the growth of the game among women.
The open division isn’t separated, and there are not many women at the very top. Maybe none in the top hundred or more. That of course isn’t because of gender but more maybe due to under-representation. Nevertheless, the women’s division doesn’t exist because it outperforms the open division.