A British darts star is making international headlines after forfeiting the Denmark Open tournament in protest of having to play against a transgender biological man.
Deta Hedman, 64, is a three-time World Darts Federation finalist and biological woman competing in the sport since the 1980s.
Hedman was being forced to play against Noa-Lynn van Leuven, who started playing darts after he began transitioning to a "woman" in 2022.
The transgender darts player previously competed as a man. Since "transitioning," he has won the Professional Darts Corporation Women's Series in Wigan and a PDC Tour event in Hildesheim, Germany.
In a post on X, Hedman wrote, "No fake illness I said I wouldn't play a man in a ladies event." No fake illness I said I wouldn't play a man in a ladies event . Don't listen to @phillbarrs he knows sweet fa, nor does his reliable source .
— Deta Hedman (@Deta132) May 4, 2024
When someone remarked that darts is a "mixed sport," Hedman replied saying, "Denmark OPEN Women's singles the clue is,in the title." Denmark OPEN Women's singles the clue is,in the title .
— Deta Hedman (@Deta132) May 5, 2024
According to a report from The Telegraph, in a message to the Save Women’s Sport campaign group, Hedman wrote, “This subject [is] causing much angst in the sport I love. People can be whoever they want in life but I don’t think biological-born men should compete in women’s sport.”
Last year, Hedman wrote in another post, "For many months I’ve struggled with transgenders playing in the women’s world ranked events. I have thought this is wrong since day one, I have no problem with transgenders in life...Noa is a really nice person, nobody is disputing that at all... it’s just my belief and many other women players’ belief that trans shouldn’t be in women’s ranked events."
Hedman said that Denmark Darts paid her out in full for the event despite her forfeit.
