I discovered flag football when I moved to San Francisco a couple of years ago, and it’s been a lot of fun to take my sports career to another level with another community through a level of competition I was previously unfamiliar with.

I'm by no means the best athlete out there, but I'm now able to compete at a higher level. I'm able to go out there, have a lot of fun and make some cool catches. It's reinvigorated my love for the sport to the point where I play most Sundays as opposed to watching it on TV because I'd rather play in SFWFFL than sit on my couch.

While I don't typically find traditional notions of masculinity and femininity on women's teams, or even co-ed teams, I do when I’m traveling and playing more competitively for some tournaments around the men’s teams.

It very quickly becomes this macho, pissing match and it's not only in the locker room anymore. It's just out in the open air – cis men who tie their entire identity into being good at football: they're a lot.

There was a brief bit of transphobia when I first started playing flag football and that was not fun. It was my very first game, in a new league and new place. My team immediately came to my defense and they not only defended me, but also called the person out in the moment.

As far as euphoria goes, I get it from just being able to do a thing that I love, while being myself – wearing a tank top and leggings, playing sports, going out there and not having to hide.

It’s euphoric to be on the ice, wearing a uniform that indicates my transness, and being comfortable while playing, learning and teaching. It is unlike anything I've done in my transition beyond gender-affirming surgery.

Sports have been a huge part of my life and I sucked at them growing up so I never identified myself by playing sport. I’m glad to have that part of my identity back.

[to be continued under ‘Support’]