The friends and family of bisexual surfer Tyler Wright have hit out at the World Surf League (WSL) on social media after the organisation announced that one of its stops for its 2025 Championship tour would take place in the United Arab Emirates.
The season will begin in Hawaii in January before making its second stop at Surf Abu Dhabi the following month.
The venue, which is a new addition for the 2025 season, has the world’s biggest man-made wave pool and, according to the Daily Telegraph, will appear on the schedule for the next three seasons.
But United Arab Emirates civil law and sharia law criminalise same-sex sexual activity, and the move to host an event on the 2025 calendar has been condemned by some of Wright’s friends and family members on Instagram.
Wright, who hails from New South Wales, identifies as bisexual and has been married to Lilli Baker since 2022.
The 30-year-old has won 16 times on the WSL World Tour, notably clinching the 2022 and 2023 Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach.
Her younger brother Mikey Wright, who has also competed on the international stage, took to Instagram to criticise the WSL’s decision.
He wrote in a comment under the WSL’s post announcing next year’s tour dates: ‘This schedule should [be] re-thought, you have no business putting on an event at a location where my sister can be sentenced by law with the death penalty.’
Friends and family of Australian Olympic surfer Tyler Wright (pictured) have hit out at the World Surf League for holding an event in the United Arab Emirates, where they say her sexuality will see her life put in danger
Wright’s wife Lili (pictured right, with Wright) was one of several family members to criticise the WSL over its decision to host a new event in the United Arab Emirates in 2025
Tyler’s brother, Mikey Wright, condemned the scheduling decision on Instagram
‘So much for equality and equal rights, only when it’s convenient to WSL., You have supported the LGBTQ flag on her shoulder but now you want to strip it and be hush-hush to get her to a location that she’s at risk of this punishment.
‘You have the responsibility to protect your athletes, interested to see how you think you can protect her against the law. @wsl’
Lilli Wright published a post on Instagram, where she wrote a long caption in which she criticised the WSL for the tour for adding Surf Abu Dhabi to their 2025 schedule.
‘Two days ago @wsl released their 2025 tour schedule,’ Lilli wrote.
‘Unfortunately, homosexuality is illegal at one of the locations and my wife can legally be sentenced to death or imprisonment if she tries to attend.
‘Tyler has competed on this tour for over 14 years and has had the pride flag on her jersey since 2020. Even after winning 2 world titles she is still not valued enough by the WSL to be considered when they sold this event. WSL have the duty of care to their athletes to not put them in potentially life-threatening circumstances like this.
‘It has been an upsetting journey educating myself on the legality and the history of LGBTQIA+ rights at this location and I doubt there is any “solution” I would feel comfortable with the love of my life competing there. I see how hard my wife works every day on her career and it’s unreasonable to expect her to just not go.
Wright (right) who hails from New South Wales, identifies as bisexual and has been married to Lilli (left) since 2022.
Wright is a two time world champion and represented Australia at this summer’s Olympic Games
Tyler’s wife Lilli wrote ‘Tyler’s queerness should not have to be a burden or an obstacle in her workplace’ as she hit out at the WSL
‘Her life is worth more than one event but I can’t not acknowledge missing this event would put her career at a huge disadvantage over the next 3 years that this location will be used. Tyler’s queerness should not have to be a burden or an obstacle in her workplace.
She added: ‘I do however believe it is a conversation where there is a country such as this that is putting a lot of money into being an international destination for professional sporting competitions especially when they have such strict laws on the LGBTQIA+ community. At the end of the day, WSL had absolutely no business selling this event to this location expecting their only openly queer athlete to go along quietly.
Australian skateboarder Poppy Starr, also commented on the post, writing: ‘I’ve had multiple Olympic qualifiers in Dubai & am in the exact same position. As much as I can appreciate the beauty of the country it’s not easy to compete and maintain a positive mindset when you’re worrying about your safety every day.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the WSL and Wright’s teams for comment.
