‘Happiest I’ve ever seen her’: the sports teams giving trans kids a safe place

[Jessica_Rose]

'Happiest I've ever seen her': the sports teams giving trans kids a safe place to play

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/happiest-i-ve-ever-seen-her-the-sports-teams-giving-trans-kids-a-safe-place-to-play/ar-BB1nhjr0?ocid=windirect&cvid=575fcaa94241406ab047bedebf65dfb1&ei=20

Story by Maggie Mertens (29 May 2024)

Like many seven-year-olds, Gregory's daughter discovered her love for soccer on the playground at recess. She started coming home talking about the sport and asked to join her friends' recreational team. Gregory, an attorney in Portland, Oregon, whose name we've changed to protect his family's safety and privacy, signed her up. But his daughter ended up getting assigned to a different team than the one her friends were on.

Gregory was concerned about his daughter not being on a team with a coach and players she knew – she's transgender and he wanted her to be in a supportive environment. Gregory's wife called the league's coordinator to see if they could get their daughter on the original team and to explain the reasoning for their request, but he said she shouldn't be playing on a girls' team if she's trans.

Within days, however, Gregory and his family discovered Portland Community Football Club (PCFC), an organization where his daughter could play on a mixed-gender team, and even wear a Pride flag on her official jersey. "During her first soccer game she couldn't even really run normally because she was squealing and skipping with joy down the field. It's the happiest I've ever seen her."