A transgender college basketball player in Canada says she was physically targeted by opponents during a game after their coach said she shouldn't be allowed to play against women.
Harriette Mackenzie, a 21-year-old forward for Vancouver Island University, spoke with The Canadian Press and on social media in hopes that sharing what happened will help. "I'm proud of my story.
And I want to make something very clear — queer, trans and nonbinary people belong in sport," she said in a social media video. "And there is zero space in this league for hate, violence and bigotry." The Mariners (4-0) won a pair of home games last week against Canadian Bible College.
After the first game, Mackenzie said, CBC coach Taylor Claggett yelled at a VIU staff member that Mackenzie — who led both teams with 19 points and 16 rebounds — shouldn't be allowed to play against women.