Cate McGregor
Cate McGregor | |
---|---|
Born |
Malcolm Gerard McGregor 1956 Toowoomba, Queensland[1] |
Nationality | Australian |
Occupation | Army officer, Air Force officer, author, cricket commentator |
Television | One Plus One interview, ABC News[2] |
Group Captain Catherine "Cate" McGregor AM (formerly Malcolm Gerard McGregor) is a serving member of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). She has also been a cricket commentator, author, and advocate for LGBTI issues.[3][4][5][6]
Cricket
From 2011 McGregor has been a cricket writer for The Spectator,[4] a cricket commentator for The Australian,[7] and the Australian Financial Review,[5] and the author of a book, An Indian Summer of Cricket, published on 24 November 2012.[8] In a 2012 review, Tony Abbott, then federal Leader of the Opposition, described the book as "the best sort of book about sport" for "those who think that sport can be a metaphor for life". Abbott called the Chief of Army's launch of the book "a fitting salute to [moral] courage"[9]
In late 2016, McGregor resumed her cricket career playing for a Canberra women's cricket team, with the possibility of selection in the Women's Big Bash League.[10][11] It is reported that she uses drug therapy, has high levels of oestrogen and no longer produces testosterone.[11]
Military
In 2012, McGregor was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Military Division for "exceptional service to the Australian Army as the Director of the Land Warfare Studies Centre".[12]
Following a period between 2010 and 2013 when numerous ADF personnel were involved in misogynistic behaviour (including the non-consensual filming of sexual encounters with women),[13] Chief of Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison AO responded in a video speech which was written by McGregor.[14] In the speech he described the actions as a "direct contravention" of the Army's values, and said "those who think that it is okay to behave in a way that demeans of exploits their colleagues have no place in this army." [13]
In 2013, David Morrison "refused to accept her resignation when she went public" as transgender.[15] In November 2013 McGregor was the highest ranking transgender individual in the Army, and the speechwriter and strategic adviser for David Morrison.[2]
In 2013 there was a number of social media exchanges involving McGregor[16] for which the Department of Defence made a payment in compensation.[17]
McGregor transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) on 20 June 2014 to work on projects for the Chief of Air Force.[18]
In 2015 McGregor, in considering having gender reassignment surgery said, "it’s about being congruent in your identity. I would like to feel whole,"[1] and that any sex change, "will be funded independently with no taxpayer assistance".[19]
Queenslander of the Year
In 2015 McGregor was named as Queenslander of the Year, despite not living in Queensland,[20] and as such became a finalist for 2016 Australian of the Year,[21] which was subsequently awarded to her previous commanding officer, David Morrison. She described the selection of Morrison as a "weak, conventional choice",[22] a comment for which she subsequently apologised.[23][24]
Post military career
McGregor has been appointed as a patron of Kaleidoscope Australia, a not-for-profit organisation focused on promoting and protecting the rights of LGBTI people in the Asia Pacific region[25] and is to move into trans-advocacy, on a full-time basis.[26] In September 2016, it was reported that McGregor had been "sacked" by Kaleidoscope Australia because of her criticism[27] of the Safe Schools program.[28][29]
See also
References
- 1 2 "Being Transgender: The secret I kept for 50 years". Australian Women's Weekly. 11 April 2015. Archived from the original on 11 April 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- 1 2 "One Plus One (Video)". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
- ↑ Maiden, Samantha. "Bombshell dropped as army officer changes gender". Herald Sun. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
- 1 2 Malcolm McGregor, The Spectator, 12 November 2011
- 1 2 How Malcolm became Cate amidst a passion for cricket and war, Radio National, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 24 November 2012
- ↑ Farr, Malcolm. "Coffee with my mate Cate (who used to be Malcolm)". The Punch. Archived from the original on 17 November 2012.
- ↑ "Stories by Cate McGregor, Cricket writer". The Australian. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ↑ An Indian Summer of Cricket, Barrallier Books, 2012. ISBN 9780987168559
- ↑ Tradition meets change, Tony Abbott, writing in The Spectator, 24 November 2012
- ↑ "Catherine McGregor's pitch for the Big Bash at 60 boosted by win in first cricket match". News Ltd. 20 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
- 1 2 Black, Sarah (20 November 2016). "Transgender cricketer Catherine McGregor sets sights on selection for the Women's Big Bash League". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
- ↑ "Media Advisory: Governor-General to Invest Australian Honours and Bravery Recipients 27 April 2012". Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
- 1 2 "Australian Story - Call Me Cate - Transcript". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
- ↑ "Transgender Lieutenant Colonel Cate McGregor speaks out about abuse and support". News Ltd. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- ↑ Transgender Lieutenant Colonel Cate McGregor speaks out about abuse and support, News.com.au, 5 July 2013
- ↑ "Transgender Lieutenant Colonel Cate McGregor counselled after online outburst". News Ltd. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ↑ Thomas, Hedly (26 January 2016). "Compensation funding legal battle against Defence". The Australian. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ↑ "Special invitation to share her story" (PDF). Air Force. Royal Australian Air Force. 19 June 2014. p. 7. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
- ↑ "Australian Defence Force spends $640,000 on gender identity treatment for transitioning troops". Adelaide Now. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ↑ Thomas, Hedley (29 January 2016). "Cate McGregor's nomination: Canberra, that's in Queensland". The Australian. Retrieved 29 January 2016. (subscription required)
- ↑ Houghton, Des (9 January 2016). "Opinion: Australian of the Year Queensland finalist Catherine McGregor may raise eyebrows". Courier Mail. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ↑ "Cate McGregor said choosing David Morrison as Australian of the Year was a 'weak, conventional choice'". Daily Telegraph. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ↑ Wroe, David (27 January 2016). "Australian of the Year: Catherine McGregor sorry after saying David Morrison choice was 'weak'". smh.com.au.
- ↑ Beers, Lucy Mae (27 January 2016). "'It was a weak and conventional choice': Australian of the Year finalist says SHE should have won because the country was ready for a trans person". Daily Mail. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ↑ "Cate McGregor appointed as patron of Kaleidoscope Australia Human Rights Foundation". Star Observer. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ↑ Power, Shannon (27 January 2016). "Cate McGregor apologises for "weak" selection comments of Australian of the Year winner". Star Observer. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ↑ "Catherine McGregor speaks out against Safe Schools". Out In Perth. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ↑ "Catherine McGregor dropped from LGBT group over anti-Safe School comments". Same Same. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ↑ Power, Shannon (6 September 2016). "Catherine McGregors angry response to Kaleidoscope Australia sacking". Star Observer. Retrieved 6 September 2016.