The Rose of Tralee says transgender women are welcome to enter the pageant.
The festival sparked fury earlier when it confirmed "the matter of allowing transgender women to enter is not something we are considering at the moment"
It drew wide criticism from equality campaigners and even from a former contestant. The 2016 Sydney Rose Brianna Parks told Today FM News the competition is being 'slowly dragged into the 21st Century.'
Both the Girl guides and the Scouts both amended their rules in recent weeks to allow members to be accepted based on the gender they identify with, rather than their "biological" sex.
Events to select contestants for the Rose of Tralee get underway around the world in the coming weeks.
Under the current entry rules women must be at least 18 and can never have been married.
This afternoon in a statement the Rose of Tralee confirmed a U Turn. In an interview with RTE the Festival said transgender women are welcome
Statement from the Rose of Tralee International Festival
THE Rose of Tralee International Festival has not banned transgender women from entering the event, contrary to a report in the Irish Daily Mirror.
Speaking to Ray D’Arcy on RTÉ Radio 1, in his only interview on the matter, the Executive Chair of the Rose of Tralee International Festival, Anthony O’Gara, has confirmed that transgender women are welcome to apply to become a Rose.
He said that transgender women are women. There is no rule banning women - including transgender woman - from entering.
Mr O’Gara said that the organisation is serious about its inclusiveness but wants to take care of those who put themselves in the public eye through the festival.
He said that the Rose of Tralee Festival is in the media, it’s on TV and they have a duty of care to all the people who come on board. If they have a particular point of view or a particular aspect to their personal lives, the festival organisers try to ensure that it isn’t abused and put out there on the basis of someone trying to sell newspapers or otherwise.
The search for the 2017 Rose of Tralee is underway and women may apply online at www.roseoftralee.ie/apply.
