Canadian Pride Fest president resigns after backlash over comments about transgender athletes in women’s sports
NEWNow you can listen to News articles!
The president of a Canadian Pride festival organizing group has resigned amid immense backlash over comments about transgender athletes in women’s sports.
The Windsor-Essex Pride Fest in Ontario, Canada, announced on social media this week that president Wendi Nicholson has resigned after commenting on recent reports that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will ban biological males from participating in women’s competitions.
“Effective immediately, Wendi Nicholson has resigned as board chair and is no longer affiliated with the Windsor-Essex Pride Fest,” the statement said.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON News
A parade-goer waves the Progress Pride flag at the Midsumma Pride March in St Kilda, Victoria, Australia, on February 2, 2025. (Joshua Stanyer/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“We have closely monitored the comments people have made about this situation, and while this announcement is an important first step, we agree that we can do much more… We realize that people are angry and we understand why. We ask that you bear with us as we work to improve and uphold our values of equality, inclusion and respect.”
Nicholson made his comments during a radio interview on AM800.
“We’ve been fighting for women in sports. Now, we have people coming in and saying, ‘Well, I can’t make it in this sport, so I’m going to transition and be this,'” Nicholson said.
THE NEW HEAD OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES ASKS TO ‘PROTECT’ THE FEMALE CATEGORY AMID THE WORLDWIDE WAVE OF TRANS ATHLETES
“You went through Johnny until you were 17 or 18. Now you’re playing elite sports. You’re hitting puberty. You’re not as good as you thought, but then you look and say, ‘Hey, if I say my name is Sally and I’m transgender, I can go and I can beat up girls.'”
Nicholson added that she has no problem with transgender women participating in sports “all the way up to the elite divisions” and that, as a “woman who has been a trailblazer for years,” she felt the issue “hits a sore point.”
News Digital has attempted to contact Nicholson on social media for comment on his recent resignation.
Current IOC policy leaves it up to the governing body of each individual sport to establish policies governing transgender athletes. But as the IOC changes its leadership, its policies will change too. The London Times reported on Monday.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE News APP
The next policy change is likely to be announced in the IOC session in February ahead of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy and comes after a presentation by Dr. Jane Thornton, the IOC’s medical and scientific director, last week, according to The Times.
Thornton’s presentation reportedly showed that there were physical advantages in men, including those taking treatments to reduce testosterone levels. A source told the newspaper that the presentation was “very scientific” and unemotional.
“The IOC director of health, medicine and science provided an update to IOC members last week during IOC commission meetings,” an IOC spokesperson told News Digital. “The working group continues its discussions on this issue and no decision has yet been made. More information will be provided in due course.”
Follow News Digital sports coverage in X and subscribe to the News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and the NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures such as Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.