'This is people's lives': Canadian soccer star Quinn continues trans advocacy

A Canadian soccer star is speaking out about the need to make sports safe for trans athletes — and the world safer for trans people — as restrictive laws come into effect across North America.

"This is people's lives," said Quinn, a midfielder for the Vancouver Rise of the Northern Super League. "Like, this isn't something to take lightly."

It's been more than five years since Quinn, 30, publicly came out as nonbinary.

They were already well into their professional soccer career at the time and had helped Canada's women's soccer team to Olympic bronze at the 2016 Rio Games.

They've since made history, becoming the first openly transgender, nonbinary athlete to win an Olympic medal — gold — in 2021, and to compete in a FIFA World Cup in 2023.

They were also the first trans, nonbinary athlete in the NWSL and said being open pushed that league to reassess its policies and find ways to be more inclusive.

Recent years have also seen legislation passed in both the United States and Canada that curbs trans peoples' participation in sports, restricts their access to gender-affirming medical care, and places limits on how trans kids express themselves.

Those laws are dangerous, Quinn said.

"We talk about participation in sport, and that's one thing, right? And I think that's a huge thing," they said. "It was a huge thing for my life. It's a huge thing for everyone's life and how they learn with their bodies and create community and create friendships.

"And I think on the other side of that, healthcare was huge for me. Having top surgery and having that gender affirming surgery for me made a huge difference in how I show up for myself and for others every single day. And having that taken away from people, it's huge. It's life