Fate has an interesting way of treating those who tempt it. When the WSL committed to running a championship event at the Abu Dhabi wave pool they came under fire from various quarters because the UAE, of which Abu Dhabi is a member, officially states that homosexuality is illegal. Perhaps the WSL didn’t factor-in Tyler Wright being world number one going into the event. Tyler is openly queer, happily married and an unofficial ambassador for the LGBTQI+ community. She literally wears the rainbow-pride flag on her sleeve. As the number one ranked surfer in the world, she brings the issue of Abu Dhabi’s questionable legal system into focus.
When the WSL made plans to host the event in Abu Dhabi they were well-aware they were dealing with a regime with views on homosexuality that were at odds with its competitors and its fan base. Now, they must reckon with their decision and manage the situation. The mainstream press is weighing in with opinions and surfing is in the spotlight. The WSL have always craved global attention. Perhaps this isn’t the scenario they imagined.
Like many sports, Pro Surfing has some historical precedent when it comes to the issue of sexual oppression. Throughout the 80s and 90s many of the women competing on the world tour were queer. However, at the time the culture of the sport and western society in general was less understanding. Most of the surfers found it challenging to be open about their sexuality in such an environment. Their struggle was engagingly documented in the recent film ‘Girls Can’t Surf’. Times changed, and since its incarnation in 2015, the WSL has always been supportive of queer surfers, at least when they are competing on friendly shores. However, by hosting an event in Abu Dhabi have the WSL set the clock back? Or is it another opportunity to challenge oppression, albeit by more subtle means.
Critics have accused the WSL of being party to sportswashing; that by hosting an event in Abu Dhabi they make a region with a deplorable stance on sexuality look somewhat more moderate; even open-minded enough to allow openly gay athletes to compete on their turf. They certainly haven’t, as the law might suggest, told Tyler she can’t come, or to go home, or to jail. Abu Dhabi is busy reinventing itself as a major tourist location and the WSL and its broad-reaching webcast has been rolled in to help them do it. No doubt the WSL have been paid handsomely by the tourism bodies. They probably feel like they need the cash too. However, it’s arguable that by running an event they make Abu Dhabi seem more appealing and liberal, but don’t really encourage change in a fundamentally oppressive culture.
Meanwhile, an optimist might suggest there is an opportunity for both Tyler and the WSL to be a force of liberation in the UAE. Long-term the best result for everyone would be to see Abu Dhabi and the UAE relinquish their unacceptable policies on homosexuality. We’re certainly not likely to witness the wave pool used for a Mardi Gras after-party any time soon (although it would be a good venue), but can the official arrival of a proudly gay world number one surfer in the UAE genuinely help push the slow train of liberation a little further along the track? Amongst Abu Dhabi’s 3.79 million citizens there are certainly many people from the LGBTQI+ community who will welcome the presence of Tyler – even if they can’t celebrate her arrival too loudly.
It seems the latter is the tact the WSL and Tyler are trying to take. This morning, we saw images of Tyler Wright teaching local girls and women to surf. She also released a well-crafted statement on Instagram to accompany a photo.
“I’ve been working with the appropriate teams in the UAE as well as the WSL and am assured that I will be competing in a welcoming and safe environment.
Competing around the world has been my job for a long time. Over the years, I’ve seen the impact of the women’s tour and programs like WSL Rising Tides and how they have inspired a generation of women and many to come.
Yesterday, I had the privilege of sharing the love of surfing with the WSL Rising Tides girls who had never surfed before. The abundant collective joy in that session was truly memorable.
Sport has a beautiful and powerful way of fostering connection, community and representation. “If you can see it, you can be it.” That’s something that has remained important to me throughout my career.”
There’s no doubt the WSL commentary and the legal teams are currently rehearsing a host of scenarios involving Tyler. It’s not yet clear if she will wear the rainbow pride flag on her WSL jersey – which would imply both the WSL and Tyler are endorsing the LGBTQI+ community. Promoting homosexuality in any way is also illegal in Abu Dhabi.
Perhaps Tyler will simply do no interviews, remove the flag, stick to the ‘play it safe’ handbook and focus on the competition. From a self-interest and survival point of view this is probably the most sensible thing to do. It’s not her responsibility to single-handedly take on a regime. The situation has cast her as the pin-up for the LGBTQI+ community, but first and foremost she has her safety to consider, and secondly, she probably sees herself as a competitor. However, is the WSL bowing to oppression if Tyler feels like she can’t speak her mind? And what happens if she does? The world will be watching.
