SEATTLE — In 2020, the Seattle Reign FC's Quinn made history by coming out as transgender and nonbinary, making them the first openly trans and nonbinary professional soccer player and Olympian.
They stopped by KING 5's New Day Northwest to talk about the experience of coming out while being a professional athlete.
They first discovered their love of soccer by watching their sisters play while growing up in Canada.
"I wanted to play so badly," Quinn said. "When I finally got to play soccer, I loved it from the moment I stepped on the field."
Quinn began their career with the Seattle Reign in 2019. They decided to come out as trans and nonbinary in 2020 after growing tired of not being represented in their sport as their true self.
"I just got to a breaking point of, you know, not wanting to hear a different name when the starting 11 (players were) announced for my games - I was tired of people not knowing who I really was."
Quinn said deciding to come out was a scary choice at first, but they had hope and good reason to believe that their teammates and the league would be accepting.
"No one had come out before as transgender (in professional soccer), and so for me, it was an unknown," they said. "I think having supportive people around me - my team was really supportive and I think the league, the NWSL, has been hugely supportive for LGBTQ players historically, and so I knew that there was that backing, and I hoped it would be that way - and it was."
Quinn said coming out and showing up as their true self on the field also helped improve their game.
"I thought I was playing the best soccer I ever had right after I came out and I think that's just a testament to being your authentic self, being open and being able to express yourself on and off the field," they said.
While it's celebration-worthy to see the acceptance they've received within the NWSL and on an international stage, Quinn posted on Instagram after becoming the first openly trans athlete to compete in the Olympics in 2021 that they had mixed feelings - especially in light of the challenges many trans athletes face trying even to gain access to sports.
"Trans girls being banned from sports. Trans women facing discrimination and bias while trying to pursue their Olympic dreams. The fight isn’t close to over… and I’ll celebrate when we’re all here," Quinn wrote.
They reiterated their feelings to KING 5, calling attention to the fact that many of the challenges facing trans athletes in 2021 persist today - and in some places have become even more daunting.
"I think I was really proud of being able to show younger folks what it meant to live authentically and to be yourself on the international stage but I think I also understand the reality of not everyone being able to have a place in sports," Quinn said. "Especially at the moment, we're seeing a lot of bans of transgender children in the United States not being able to play the sports they love, and so I think for me it was just a really eye-opening moment of being really proud in how the LGBTQ community has moved forward but also understanding some of the current realities we're facing."