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Olympic Soccer Player Quinn Has Come Out Publicly as Trans
“As I’ve lived as an openly trans person with the people I love most for many years, I did always wonder when I’d come out publicly.”
Canadian soccer star Quinn just came out as trans on Instagram, and they had a very important message for the cis community on how to be a good ally.
"Coming out is HARD ( and kinda bs)," Quinn wrote to Instagram yesterday. "I know for me it's something I'll be doing over again for the rest of my life."
After acknowledging that Instagram is a "weird space," Quinn went on to say they "wanted to encapsulate the feelings I had towards my trans identity in one post" before admitting "that's really not why anyone is on here, including myself."
Quinn went on to express their desire to be "visible to queer folx" by providing them the type of role model to show they are not alone.
"I know it saved my life years ago," they wrote.
Then Quinn offered a challenge to cis folks even if they "don't know what cis means" -- for those unaware, cisgender refers to a person who identifies with the gender they were assigned at birth -- with a five-point primer for how to be a good ally to the trans community.
The steps are simple: Put your pronouns in your bios; Listen to trans and nonbinary voices; Practice using gender neutral pronouns; Vote; And learn to identify and eliminate your personal biases about the transgender community.
"It's a process, and I know it won't be perfect, but if I can encourage you to start then it's something," Quinn wrote.
Quinn currently plays midfielder for the Swedish team Vittsjo GIK while on loan from the OL Reign in the National Women's Soccer League. They also play for the Canadian national team. In addition to playing in the 2019 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics for Canada, they also helped the national team qualify for the 2020 Tokyo games, now slated to take place next summer.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is currently working on a framework for the inclusion of trans athletes. They had hoped to finish their work before the Tokyo games, but instead indicated no decision will be announced until after their conclusion.
Regardless of the IOC's ruling, Quinn felt the time is right for them to open up and reveal publicly what those closest to them have known for some time.
"As I've lived as an openly trans person with the people I love most for many years, I did always wonder when I'd come out publicly."
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