US pro hockey player publicly announces his trans identity

Harrison Browne has become the first openly transgender athlete on a US pro sports team.

Browne who is currently playing for the National Women’s Hockey League team, Buffalo Beauts, announced his trans identity publicly this week.

The player spoke about his identity: “My family is starting to come to grips with it, now it’s my time to be known as who I am, to be authentic and to hear my name said right when I get a point, or see my name on a website”, he said.

“I’m still the same player, I’m still playing in the body that I did last year, I’m still the same exact person. I’m just a different name and different pronouns, that’s it. I’m still Brownie”, he added.

Browne has postponed his full transition until he’s finished playing in the NWHL and is yet to change his name legally because of issues surrounding visa’s.

The future of his career is uncertain, but the star says he is “not closing the door” on playing in male leagues, depending on how his body changes.