Opinion: I'm a transgender player in a women's hockey league. That's exactly where I belong - CNN

( ProxyMusic )

Throughout my transition, I remained active in my sport. I tried playing adult men's "beer league" hockey at first, but I didn't feel safe physically, since I was playing against large bodies as my own body was rapidly changing and losing muscle mass.

And playing in that league only added to my anxiety, since I didn't feel comfortable expressing my true identity in front of my [male] teammates. I was certain that my male teammates wouldn't accept my transition.

So he didn't even give the other blokes a chance to demonstrate their fealty to "diversity and inclusion" by allowing them to know and accept him. He sold them short from the get-go by deciding in his own head right off the bat that they'd never accept him, thus he never bothered being honest and open with them. In one act of mental gymnastics, he pre-judged them to be intolerant arseholes and conveniently let himself off the hook. So much for "authenticity" and "living your truth."

I felt like a complete outsider, as if I had something to hide every time I stepped in the locker room -- whether I was covering up the physical changes I was experiencing because of transitioning, or lying about my life off the ice.

News flash: hiding who you are and lying about yourself leads to social awkwardness and unease. It's impossible to feel at home with others when you are not at home with yourself.

( RisingUp )

I felt like a complete outsider, as if I had something to hide every time I stepped in the locker room -- whether I was covering up the physical changes I was experiencing because of transitioning, or lying about my life off the ice.

But in the ladies locker room he’s totally happy letting it all swing free! How charming.

( hmimperialtortie )
You belong in a locked ward, male.

( mittimithai )
This has to be the best line.

"The first couple of years during my transition were tough: During one particularly rough three-month period, I posed as a man at work while living my true identity outside it."