Trans darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven hits back at ‘toxic’ rivals after latest success

Trans darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven hits back at ‘toxic’ rivals after latest success

Trans darts player, Noa-Lynn van Leuven.
Trans darts player, Noa-Lynn van Leuven. (Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)

Trans darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven has hit back at her “toxic” rivals after qualifying for the World Championships.

Leuven, who transitioned in 2021 and has faced controversy for playing against cis women, qualified for her first Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship on Saturday (19 October) – making her the first trans woman to do so – following a 5-3 victory over English star Beau Greaves in the 21st PDC Women’s Series in Leicester.

However, some of her rivals, including British star Deta Hedman, have not taken the news well and have called for trans competitors to be banned from playing in ranked women’s tournaments.

‘This is discrimination”
In response, Leuven told Dutch outlet NU that her competitors see her as a “threat”, despite the fact she has “proven I can win over men, too”.

Speaking of the World Darts Federation World Cup, where she has previously won gold, Van Leuven touched on a members’ meeting where it was reportedly decided that that trans women will no longer be able to participate in the event.

“I thought the world should know, this is discrimination. We have been thrown back 40 years with the sport of darts,” she said. “[Other players] secretly tell me that they don’t understand the commotion but there are a lot of conservative, toxic bi***es on the women’s tour.

You may like to watch

PDC World Championship was ‘the ultimate middle finger’
“People send the most terrible messages, then go on preparing their pasta. They have no idea the impact it has on my life. I didn’t dare go out on the street for several weeks and had panic attacks. It did take a while for that fear to go away.”

Despite the hate, “standing there [at the World Championships] as the first Dutch woman, is already the ultimate middle finger for me”, van Leuven added.

She previously told PinkNews that online abuse levelled at her following an opponent’s decision to forfeit a match left her not wanting to leave her home.

Offering advice to fellow trans athletes, she said: “As long as you are happy as yourself, that’s the most important thing. People can say: ‘Oh, we accept you anyway you are’, but whenever you get successful they won’t. Just be you.”

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.

More:
anti-trans darts Noa-Lynn van Leuven Trans
Drag Race stars Sasha Colby, Yvie Oddly, Sasha Velour, Monet X Change and Bob The Drag Queen.
Start your engines! All 15 seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race US ranked from worst to best
Please login or register to comment on this story.

Queer News. Straight Up.
The LGBTQ+ stories you don’t want to miss, delivered to your inbox daily.

Darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven is first trans woman to qualify for World Championships
Deta Hedman
Sport
Jul 30
Darts player Deta Hedman withdraws from another tournament after being drawn against trans player
Noa-Lynn van Leuven

Darts star takes aim at media attacks on trans athletes: ‘If (we) win – or fart – it’s big news’
Former world darts champion Neil Duff and trans player Noa-Lynn van Leuven

Former world darts champion defends ‘lovely’ trans player: ‘The girl is scared to play’
Samantha Lewis throwing a dart.

Trans darts player left ‘broken’ after tournament ban

Drag Race UK winner announces break from drag to focus on mental health
Trans darts player, Noa-Lynn van Leuven.

Mr Loverman’s intimacy co-ordinator says stars ‘exploring each other’s body’ mattered
ACLU Attorney Chase Strangio will make history at US Supreme Court.

Trailblazing trans lawyer Chase Strangio set to make history at US Supreme Court
Image representing LGBTQ+ veterans.

Furious veterans slam ‘unacceptably low’ compensation fund for ‘cruel’ military gay ban
Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Film

Is there actually going to be a Scarlet Witch solo movie? All of the rumours, explored
Two gay men kissing while shirtless in bed
Sex

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *