I’m glad our sport is generally welcoming to a diverse group of people.
I know this intellectually, but it’s so difficult for me to internalize that “WFTDA unconditionally welcomes trans skaters”. I’ve just felt like a second-class citizen for most of my derby career, as if “being too good” (i do a lot of cross training to improve my strength and agility, so people on the outside could easily blame me being a strong player on “natural advantages from male puberty”) could push me out of the sport that I’ve pour so much of myself into.
Over time, my league has grown, and we now have five (!) trans femme or nonbinary skaters. Seeing them being accepted (including a non-medically-transitioning AMAB enby) has really helped my recent mental state related to this
I know this intellectually, but it’s so difficult for me to internalize that “WFTDA unconditionally welcomes trans skaters”. I’ve just felt like a second-class citizen for most of my derby career, as if “being too good” (i do a lot of cross training to improve my strength and agility, so people on the outside could easily blame me being a strong player on “natural advantages from male puberty”) could push me out of the sport that I’ve pour so much of myself into.
Over time, my league has grown, and we now have five (!) trans femme or nonbinary skaters. Seeing them being accepted (including a non-medically-transitioning AMAB enby) has really helped my recent mental state related to this