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7 months ago
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Netball star Samantha Wallace-Joseph has sent the sport into damage control with a social media post slamming President Joe Biden for making March 31 the official Transgender Day of Visibility in the USA.
The move sparked outrage among some Americans as Easter Sunday fell on the date this year, even though the religious holiday won't occur on the same day again for at least a decade.
On Easter Monday, Wallace-Joseph re-posted the news from the States and wrote: 'The disrespect is crazy. Don't play with GOD.'
When a fan complained about the 'hateful' post and said it should be taken down, the star replied: 'My opinion still stands.'
Samantha Wallace-Joseph (pictured playing for the NSW Swifts last month) posted a shocking take on US President Joe Biden's announcement that March 31 is now the official Transgender Day of Visibility in the USA
The 30-year-old's comments were blasted as 'hateful' by one fan before her team stepped in
Her take on the news from the US threw the Swifts into panic mode, with the team conducting a crisis meeting with the 30-year-old before releasing a statement distancing the club from her stance on the issue.
'The NSW Swifts are aware of a social media post by Samantha Wallace-Joseph earlier today which has caused understandable hurt to members of the transgender community,' the statement read.
'The views expressed in the post are not shared by the Club.
'The Club spoke with Samantha raising its concerns. It is important to note that Samantha listened and will meet with the Club tomorrow.
'As a Club we remain committed to ongoing education of issues of social importance and commentary.
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.'
If her Instagram profile is anything to go by, the shooter from Trinidad and Tobago is serious about her religion.
The Swifts held a crisis meeting before distancing themselves from the goal shooter (pictured left in action last month)
Wallace-Joseph (pictured) objected to the American announcement on religious grounds as Easter Sunday fell on March 31 this year
Her Instagram bio references the Bible passage Philppians 4:13, which reads: 'I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.'
Netball Australia introduced its transgender policy in September 2020, stating that the sport is 'committed to providing welcoming, inclusive and supportive places for all people to play our great game'.
The statement also said the body believes gender identity 'is not fixed' and 'exists on a spectrum'.
In 2022 then-chief executive Kelly Ryan slammed the federal government over a private member's bill designed to ban trans athletes from women's sport.
The controversy over Wallace-Joseph's remarks comes after a shocking year for the code in 2023, which resulted in stars and greats of the sport demanding the top brass at Netball Australia be sacked.
English (US)