Trans inclusion policies are tightening and in some instances, governing bodies are imposing blanket bans on trans women from competing in women's categories. The wider sporting climate is shifting, however. Image: As lead of the Football v Transphobia campaign, Washington is helping clubs, county FAs and governing bodies to learn more about trans and non-binary inclusion She has found the women's game to be overwhelmingly welcoming, bar a couple of isolated incidents in which opposition players have targeted her. It took around 18 months for Washington to get permission to play competitively, during which time she took part in training and became a valued member of the club. Each case would be assessed by The FA's Equality Manager and Head of Medical Services.
It introduced a system whereby players over the age of 18 who are trans could apply to participate in their affirmed gender by submitting medical information to show their testosterone levels were within the corresponding natal range. The enjoyment she got from watching England's run to the semi-finals at the Women's World Cup in Canada in summer 2015 inspired her to ask her local club about playing again.Īt that time, the Football Association's 'Policy on Trans People in Football' was only a few months old. So where did football fit in? Washington had been a fan and a player before beginning her transition. Image: Natalie Washington currently plays at the sixth tier of the pyramid in the English women's game Because I wouldn't have gone back to motorsport the next year if they hadn't have done that." "I don't think people necessarily realise the significance of that moment or appreciate how important it was to me. "When I walked back into the paddock that day, they came over to me and gave me a hug. I owe a lot to a handful of close friends who really supported me. So just like Natalie, I gave it up for about a year because I thought no one would accept me in that space. "But it was a sport where there was no queer visibility. "Motorsport is mixed, so there was no issue for me in terms of being allowed to race," says Martin. It was at a similar period to Washington, around eight years ago, that she stepped back into the paddock at a circuit as herself for the first time, having had a spell away from the sport she loved in order to transition.
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That may be a hypothetical question that's hooked on sexuality, but any conversation about trans inclusion will always need empathy to really flow.įor Harder and Eriksson, it's about trying to put themselves in Washington's shoes, and also in the mindset of a sportswoman from outside of football - racing driver Charlie Martin. "What would it have been like if we couldn't have been open?" Going up through the gears "I'm imagining it from the other side," says the Chelsea captain, turning to her girlfriend. Yet her insights are no less illuminating and impactful for Harder and Eriksson. They are both world-class internationals, while Washington plays in the sixth tier of the women's game in England.
The experiences that Washington is sharing on The HangOUT are far removed from those of previous guests Megan Rapinoe and Cesar Azpilicueta, who addressed athlete activism and the power of allyship respectively.
Image: Natalie Washington says both her team-mates and opposition players continue to create inclusive environments in the women's game
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