An Australian 'Woman of the Year' award has sparked controversy after the winner was revealed to be a biological man.

"Brianna" Skinner was named the 2025 Sydney Local Woman of the Year this week, leading to backlash from critics who argue that the award should be reserved for biological women.

The annual awards, organized by the New South Wales (NSW) government, allow MPs to recognize women in their electorates for their contributions.



Sydney MP Alex Greenwich announced Skinner as the recipient, praising Skinner as a "proud transgender woman and a fierce advocate for equality and her communities."

"I first met with Brianna in 2014, with her now wife Nuna, after she contacted my office to raise concerns about people in NSW being unable to change their gender on identification documents such as birth and marriage certificates," the independent MP wrote.

"Brianna's own experience of transitioning from male to female highlighted to her the discrimination and bureaucratic discrepancies that outdated NSW laws imposed on trans and gender diverse people. This important conversation contributed to the foundation of what would become my Equality Bill."



The decision to award Skinner has drawn criticism online, including commentator Prue MacSween, reports the Daily Mail. MacSween also criticized the award selection, calling it an example of virtue signaling.

"There’s no doubt this person is a trailblazer, however, I would say that most women would find this award incredibly offensive," MacSween told Daily Mail Australia.

"This is yet another exercise of virtue signalling by (Sydney Lord Mayor) Clover Moore, Alex Greenwich, and the usual suspects. It has provided these devotees with the perfect opportunity to wave the flag. But what it does is make a joke of this particular award category which is to honor women and reinforces the fact that women are again having to fight for their rights – we are modern-day suffering suffragettes."
 

The land down under has had difficulty correctly identifying men and women in recent years. In 2024, it was revealed that a study researching pain thresholds for women was infiltrated with biological male participants. 

A report by Human Events Daily by Amy Eileen Hamm reads, “The Victorian government, led by premier Jacinta Allan, is asking the public—both patients and care providers—to complete a survey on women’s pain that is open until July 31. The survey authors claim that 'language is an effective tool for changing community attitudes and promoting inclusion' before going on to define females as 'those assigned female at birth and anyone who identifies as a woman, though they may have a different sex at birth'—the latter, of course, meaning biological males."

"This survey is part of Allan’s wider, AUD $153 million project –called the Women’s Health and Wellbeing Program—aimed at improving women’s health on the whole. At its launch, Allan claimed that there exists a 'gendered pain gap.' She said that women’s pain is ignored and 'that is why the government is placing a significant amount of attention and resources on the issue, because when we support women’s health, we support the health of all Victorians.'” The first question in the survey stated: "This survey is for women and girls who have experienced pain. Is this the correct survey for you?" followed by "What sex were you assigned at birth?" Answers to the latter question included female, male, intersex, other, and prefer not to say.

The Sydney City Hub writes regarding Skinner and Skinner’s accomplishments: “Skinner also contributes to veteran support services, raising money for organisations such as Soldier On through competitive chilli-eating competitions. After raising $3,000 for the organisation, she traveled to Fort Mill in South Carolina to compete in the inaugural World Chilli Eating Competition.”

They also call Skinner a trailblazer, writing: “This is likely the first time a trans woman has received a local woman of the year award, another example of what a trailblazer Brianna is.”

“From advocating for trans rights, raising money for veterans, to showing leadership in the harrowing Bondi Junction stabbing, Brianna is a true Sydney hero.”