Quinn.Photo: Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty
Quinn — whocame out as transgenderin September 2020 and uses the nonbinary pronouns they/them — reflected on the monumental moment after Wednesday’s match against FC Tokyo resulted in a 1-1 draw.
“First openly trans Olympian to compete. I don’t know how to feel,” theywrotealongside a game day photo.
Regarding the International Olympic Committee (IOC) honoring their name, they wrote, “I feel proud seeing ‘Quinn’ up on the lineup and on my accreditation.”
“I feel sad knowing there were Olympians before me unable to live their truth because of the world,” Quinn continued.
From a political standpoint, the 2016 Olympics bronze medalist said, “I feel optimistic for change. Change in legislature. Changes in rules, structures, and mindsets.”
“Mostly, I feel aware of the realities. Trans girls being banned from sports. Trans women facing discrimination and bias while trying to pursue their Olympic dreams,” Quinn — who also plays for the OL Reign in the U.S. where a slew of bills has been proposed seeking to ban transgender athletes from school teams that align with their gender identity — wrote.
They added, “The fight isn’t close to over… and I’ll celebrate when we’re all here.”
Quinn.Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty
Quinn shared a photo in June smiling as they held up their Canadian soccer jersey which hadtheir number printed with a rainbowon the back instead of just red in accordance with their teammate’s uniforms. They also held up an armband with the transgender flag.
“This team is hard to put into words! They have embraced change and turned into uncomfortable conversations and I love them for it,” the athlete captioned the photo. “Taking home this armband because I never thought I’d see this day!!”
Speaking earlier this month about the hot-button conversations surrounding athletes and their gender identities, Quinn toldUninterrupted,“As a trans person playing in women’s professional sports, my teammates are worried about how they’re getting to their second jobs. They’re not worrying about trans participation on their teams.”
Quinn.Quinn/Instagram
The IOC upheld their rules regarding transgender athletes for Hubbard, 43, while committing to reevaluate the policy in the future, according toReuters.
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“At the same time, the IOC is in an inquiry phase with all different stakeholders… to review these rules and finally to come up with some guidelines which cannot be rules because this is a question where there is no one-size-fits-all solution,” Bach said. “It differs from sport to sport.”
To learn more about Team USA, visitTeamUSA.org. Watch the Tokyo Olympics beginning July 23rd and the Tokyo Paralympics beginning August 24th on NBC.
source: people.com
