Trans Day of Visibility
We Belong in Sports. We belong at Nationals.
Author: Mac Romine
Editors: Beckett Brueggemann, Fiona Wisehart, Serena Monteiro
My Experiences in Sports
I stopped playing team sports pretty soon after they became separated by gender. I didn’t know why, but I felt uncomfortable being identified as part of a “girls” or “boys” team. It took years to figure out that I was nonbinary, and it took even longer for me to realize that my discomfort in sports was because of a gender separation. Sports bring team building, perseverance, and joy. As an all-gender sport, quidditch has given me the experiences that many other players have had since childhood.
I genuinely don’t know who I would be without this sport. Not just because of the game itself, but because of the people I’ve met and the new relationship I have with my body. Instead of looking at myself and seeing what I have too much or too little of, I see what my body can do. I can pick up my teammates and tackle people. I can run as fast as I can for a bludger and throw as hard as my shoulder lets me. I spend most of my free time with my teammates. I live with them, create memories with them, and I feel truly loved and accepted for who I am with them. I so truly love this sport and my teammates. My trans teammates especially have taught me so much about joy, life, acceptance, and so much more than I can express.
Unfortunately, many politicians are currently working very hard to make sure that transgender children, especially transgender girls, are unable to play sports on the team of their gender identity. The fact that anyone would want to take away the friendships, the life lessons, and the joy of sports from a child simply because of they are not cisgender is deeply upsetting to me. I was especially upset when Utah, the state where USQ Cup is being held this April, started legislation to ban trans girls from school sports. It’s scary traveling as a trans person in the first place. TSA agents click either male or female on those body scan machines and that determines where you are “supposed” to have extra bits. If the machine determines you have genitalia or breasts where you should/shouldn’t, you have to get either a chest pat down or genital check. Knowing my teammates and I would be in a place where anti-trans legislation is passed genuinely terrifies me, but I’m more concerned for the children living in these states who are being kept from doing something they love.
Quidditch policy is often supportive to trans players. I’ve had lovely refs and coaches who support me and see me for who I am. Still, I’ve had players on other teams misgender me in both sets of games I’ve played this semester. These were genuine mistakes and I hold nothing against these players, but there is still more that the quidditch community can do to protect, help, and accept trans players.
In a world that feels increasingly hostile towards trans people, I want to help trans players take back the narrative of trans athletes and create a supportive environment at Cup. With a group of other trans players, I’ve been working to find ways to demonstrate that trans athletes belong in sports.
Taking Action
At Cup this year, we are bringing our pride flags, voices, and more.
We are asking trans players and allies to wear pink, blue, and white athletic tape to show support for trans athletes who are affected by these bills and laws.
We will also be selling trans flag stickers at Cup and all profits will go towards the Transgender Law Center.
We are also compiling resources and action items that can help educate on trans athlete issues and raise awareness to help stop anti-trans legislation (see below).
While these help show support in the short term, the quidditch community as a whole can do much more to invite trans youth to play. As an all-gender sport, quidditch is in a position where trans inclusion is woven into this sport. I would love to see conference leaders work with local queer groups to create quidditch workshops for children who feel less included in other sports. (If you are interested in doing this, I would love to help!)
As of July 1st, trans girls in Utah will not be able to participate on girls teams unless a committee is allowed to examine their bodies and decides they are enough of a “girl” to play. This is invasive, transphobic, and chilling.
We need to show all the trans children of Utah that they have a community that supports them even when their legislators will not. We need to show the other closeted trans girls and femmes that they are supported. We need to make it safe for them to come out and for them to show interest in sports. Please come to Nationals showing your trans pride and allied support. Seeing trans athletes not only participate, but thrive and be valued in sports would have changed my life as a child.
Click here for educational resources and action items!
List of potential partner organizations: