Trans Soccer Star Kumi Yokoyama Proposes to Girlfriend On the Field

Kumi Yokoyama scored a huge win in the stadium where they play for the National Women's Soccer League's Washington Spirit team, but their victory had nothing to do with the game. Instead, the transgender soccer star proposed on bended knee to their girlfriend Nami, who accepted the proposal!

The super sweet moment went viral on social media, with congratulations pouring in for the 28-year-old forward who publicly came out as transgender this past June.

"She said 'YES'!" Yokoyama gushed on Twitter, posting pictures of their romantic on-field proposal that took place in D.C.'s Audi Field.

The Washington Spirit quickly replied to the couple with a tweet of congratulations.

"Here's something to make you smile!" the team shared with fans.

And the NWSL echoed their best wishes as well.

Along with Canadian soccer star and Out100 honoree Quinn, Yokoyama is one of only two out trans players in the NWSL. The Tokyo-native publicly came out in a YouTube interview with Japanese women's soccer star Yuki Nagasato this past June.

Along with fellow out athlete Carl Nassib, they were even congratulated by President Joe Biden on Twitter after publicly coming out.

"I'm open now for my sexuality and gender," Yokoyama revealed in the video. "In the future, after I quit to play soccer at this level, I want to live as a male."

In the video, they also opened up about the difficulty of life as a closeted trans man in culturally-insulated Japanese society.

"I've dated several women over the years, but I had to stay closeted in Japan because there is the public eye, and I can't allow oneself to come out it in my position," they explained.

But all that changed once Yokoyama traveled to the U.S. and Europe to compete. They were encouraged by the casual affirmation of LGBTQ+ folks and relationships by their fellow athletes and new friends, a stark contrast to their life in Japan.

"In Japan I'd always be asked if I had a boyfriend. But in here and Germany, I'm asked if I have a boyfriend or girlfriend."

Part of the problem, they said, was a lack of visibility and understanding.

"I think there are people [in Japan] who don't understand, but it's not prejudice and racism," they said. "It's just they don't understand."

Congrats to the happy couple! Best wishes for a long and happy life together!

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