We Salute Kye Allums and Trans Student Athletes

[Shana A]

We Salute Kye Allums and Trans Student Athletes

http://transgenderequality.wordpress.com/2010/11/05/we-salute-kye-allums-and-trans-student-athletes/

George Washington University junior Kye Allums is one courageous basketball player. Though he debuted as a GW player in November 2008 (by scoring 12 points against Coppin State University), this month he's making another and even bigger debut – as the first openly transgender athlete on an NCAA Division I team. Transitioning from female to male on a women's basketball team may seem like a daunting challenge, but the university, the NCAA and Kye's teammates are behind him, according to reports that were all over the media this week. Under current NCAA policies Kye isn't eligible to compete on a men's team, and he still has has a scholarship to play on the women's team. Though this will probably take a little getting used to for some, the GW Colonials are setting an example for other teams but respecting Kye (and referring to him) as the talented young man he is. Soon enough, the press attention will pass, the season will get going, and Kye and his teammates will keep focusing on their game and their studies – which is the way it should be.