‘I want to be visible’: The trans World Cup star breaking down barriers
By Emma Kemp
In September 2020, a Canadian international came out to the world as transgender. They had played for the women’s team for more than six years, and for some time been living openly with the people they loved.
“Coming out is HARD (and kinda bs),” Quinn wrote in that seminal Instagram post. “I know for me it’s something I’ll be doing over again for the rest of my life.”
The then 25-year-old wrote: “I want to be visible to queer folks who don’t see people like them on their feed. I know it saved my life years ago. I want to challenge cis folks (if you don’t know what cis means, that’s probably you!!!) to be better allies.”
Quinn has since become known by that gender-neutral mononym – their former surname – and barriers were broken down in both Canadian sport and the country’s broader society.
But their on-field influence did not change. If anything, the midfielder’s presence grew, and a year later the Toronto-born OL Reign player became the first out non-binary transgender athlete to win an Olympic medal when Canada claimed gold in Tokyo.
In Canada’s tournament-opening draw with Nigeria, they became the first out trans player at a FIFA World Cup. Five days ago, they anchored Canada’s defence in a win over Ireland. And on Monday, they will most likely be in the starting line-up against Australia.
Canada’s Quinn with teammate Shelina Zadorsky at training.Credit: Reuters
Quinn, 27, was part of coach Bev Priestman’s squad that travelled to Australia for last year’s two-friendly series against the Matildas, but this time find themselves the subject of far more attention.
Most of it has been for the right reasons. Quinn, who also contested the 2019 World Cup before coming out, has been seen as a powerful symbol for trans rights at a tournament represented by at least 87 out LGBTQ footballers, according to LGBTQ+ sports publication Outsports.
“I’m really proud of what Quinn’s doing to raise awareness and make, I guess, this world a more inclusive place,” Priestman said recently, while captain Christine Sinclair said: “We joke that we don’t deserve Quinn – they’re that good of a person.”
They have embraced it, too, using their profile to raise awareness and promote inclusion. That has included wearing a “Protect Trans Kids” hoodie before a Reign game and voicing concerns about some sports’ trans-exclusionary policies.
In June, Quinn called out the National Women’s Soccer League - in which their team plays - for “problematic” policies on trans players, which do not mention non-binary athletes.
“I hope the organisation can find space during their Pride celebrations this month to understand and educate themselves on the limitations of their policy,” they tweeted.
Mostly, they are being visible so that young trans or trans-curious players have a role model.
“It’s so important for young soccer players to have role models in sport,” Quinn told Canadian outlet Streets of Toronto this month. “Seeing the women’s national team and fortunately being able to interact with some of them, that was hugely important for me in understanding that there was a pathway for me to then become a national team player and a professional athlete.”
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