Quinn was the first transgender person to compete in the Olympics. He started Wednesday night in Canada’s 1-1 draw in Sapporo.
Quinn, a nonbinary who uses the they/them pronouns and Quinn posted his feelings on Instagram.
“It is a proud moment to see Quinn up in the lineup and on my accreditation. They wrote that they felt sad to know that Olympians before them were unable to live their truth due the world. “I am optimistic about change. Changes in the legislature, in structures and in mindsets.
Quinn, who was transgender in the last year, was also part of the Canadian team that won bronze at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics 2016.
Quinn said, “Mostly, it’s because I am aware of the facts.” “Trans girls are being expelled from sports. Trans women face discrimination and bias as they try to achieve their Olympic dreams. “The fight isn’t over… I’ll celebrate when all of us are here.”
Quinn, who plays professionally in the National Women’s Soccer League for OL Reign, isn’t the only transgender participant in the Tokyo Games. Probably the most visible is Laurel Hubbard, a transgender woman competing in weightlifting for New Zealand. Chelsea Wolfe is a transgender woman cyclist who serves as a reserve member of the U.S. women’s BMX Freestyle Team.
Many more transgender athletes could compete in Tokyo. Nikki Hiltz did not qualify in the women’s 1,500 meters at the U.S. track and field trials, while CeCe Telfer was declared ineligible in her bid to run in the 400-meter hurdles. Volleyball player Tiffany Abreu did not make Brazil’s final Olympic roster.
Since 2004, the International Olympic Committee has allowed transgender Olympic athletes to compete at the Olympics. However, until now, no one had ever done so publicly. Some transgender athletes, including Quinn, Hubbard, and Wolfe are not discussing their transition. People who are against transgender athletes competing online have harassed some of them.
There are certain conditions that transgender women must meet to be allowed to participate in women’s sport. These include the requirement that athletes have lower testosterone levels for 12 consecutive months before they can compete, and that athletes cannot qualify for women’s sports until four years after their transition.
Chris Mosier, a former triathlete and activist who came forward as transgender in 2010, participated last year in the Olympic trials of the men’s 50K runwalk. However, he was injured and had to withdraw.
Mosier, in an interview with The Associated Press last week, stated that he considers it a significant milestone in human rights for transgender athletes to be competing in the Olympics in Tokyo.
“As someone who has tried to increase visibility for transgender athletes through my website, and through my own participation as a sportsman for more than ten years, I feel just as proud of this moment and all of my achievements.” Mosier stated that this is what he has been striving for. Mosier stated, “I want trans athletes to have the freedom and space they need to be themselves and compete at their highest level. They should also feel loved and accepted.” It’s a great honor to have Quinn and Laurel participate.
Transgender visibility at the Olympics comes amid a wave of anti-transgender legislation sweeping the United States.
In 37 states, there have been proposed laws that ban or restrict transgender athletes from participating youth, high school, and college sports. At least seven states have passed laws, but many of these face legal challenges.
The U.S. Department of Justice challenged West Virginia’s ban on transgender athletes and Arkansas’s Arkansas law affecting children, claiming they were violations of federal law.
The DOJ filed statements in interest in lawsuits seeking to change laws in these states in June. West Virginia has a law that prohibits transgender athletes competing in female sports. Arkansas was the first state in America to ban transgender youth from receiving gender-confirming surgery or treatments.
According to the DOJ, the laws in both states are against the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The West Virginia law also violates Title IX which prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities receiving federal funds.
Both laws were blocked by federal judges last week.
Fallon Fox, a former mixed martial arts fighter, came out in 2013 as a transgender female. She was criticized for her participation in a male-dominated sport.
She is also proud of this moment.
“It’s amazing that we finally have trans representation at the Olympics. It’s been a long process. Some athletes, including transgender athletes have attempted to qualify for the Olympics before and failed. Fox stated that we now have some athletes who have qualified. “I think that really says something. I’m not surprised that it took so long considering that we don’t have unfair advantages.”
