Netballer Samantha Wallace-Joseph has issued an apology over comments she made on social media about Transgender Day of Visibility.
Wallace-Joseph joined the chorus of people criticising US President Joe Biden for recognising the day. This year Transgender Day of Visibility occurred on Easter Sunday.
“The disrespect is crazy. Don’t play with GOD,” Wallace Joseph wrote on a social media tile.
Her team the NSW Swifts were quick to distance themselves from the commentary, issuing a statement saying they did not agree with their players stance.
“The views expressed in the post are not shared by the Club.” the NSW Swifts said in a statement.
“Many members of our family, both directly within the Club and in the stands, identify as part of the LGBTIQA+ community. The NSW Swifts Club will always be their allies.”
After meeting with Wallace-Joseph a joint statement from the player and club offered an apology.
“It was not my intention to upset and disrespect anybody and while I feel my post was taken out of context, I didn’t say what I meant clearly,” Wallace-Joseph said in the statement.
“I did not wish to cause any offence to members of the transgender community and it is clear that I have and for that I am sorry.“
Netball Australia introduced its transgender policy in 2020 and recognises that gender occurs on a spectrum and is not fixed.
The sport has previously declared that it is a welcoming, inclusive and supportive space for people who are transgender.
