it’s Trans Awareness Week and I’ve got a great story to share with you. Meet Julia, a fantastic footballer who’s breaking barriers and living her best life. Julia joined Charlton Invicta in 2020 and plays as a striker in the mixed London Unity League. She’s also part of Stonewall FC’s Women and Non-Binary team. She’s a real powerhouse on the field! 💪
So, Julia moved to south-east London and wanted to get back into team sports to get fit, have fun, and make friends. But as an LGBTQ+ woman, she wasn’t sure where to start. Then, she heard about Invicta through Charlton Athletic’s Proud Valiants supporters group and decided to give mixed inclusive football a shot. And guess what? She hasn’t looked back since! At first, she was nervous about fitting in at a mixed team and it took a while to get her first touch, but she persevered. Football became her go-to during Covid, and she’s made some amazing memories, from scoring in a derby against Millwall Pride to a GFSN away trip to Dublin. How cool is that?
Now, here’s the juicy part – Stonewall FC are Invicta’s rivals in the London Unity League, but they also launched a Women and Non-Binary team in 2021. Julia’s loyalty is split between both teams, and the Invicta vs Stonewall fixtures are a personal highlight every season. It’s like a friendly rivalry, you know?
But let’s talk about the real deal. Mainstream football isn’t always inclusive, and discrimination is still a big issue. LGBTQ+ players face homophobic and transphobic taunts and violence, and it’s crazy that no Premier League player has come out as gay. Plus, the last two men’s World Cups were hosted by countries that criminalise LGBTQ+ identities. Women’s football has its own challenges too – teams still struggle for resources and pitches, even 50 years after the FA ban was lifted. And get this, One Love armbands were banned at the Women’s World Cup. Seriously?
Transgender Awareness Week is a reminder that being transgender in 2023 is tough. The government is stirring up culture wars and bigotry, trying to strip trans people of their rights. It’s not just in the UK – similar stories are playing out in the US and other parts of the world. Football rules and processes make it a minefield for trans people to participate in affiliated football. It’s a real struggle.
But here’s the silver lining – spaces that welcome trans footballers are super important. These are places where marginalised communities can come together and enjoy the game that most people take for granted. Small steps like sharing names and pronouns and offering inclusive changing rooms break down barriers and empower people to step onto the pitch, even after a lifetime of exclusion. Football might not solve all the problems that trans people face, but for 90 minutes, worries and traumas can be set aside by two teams and a football, even on a cold and wet November evening.