Dee McWatters says that her hockey team was more concerned about her ability to stop pucks than her gender.

McWatters is a mother, hockey player, referee, wine aficionado and operations manager, and 2SLGBTQIA+ advocate, who happens to be transgender.

McWatters, director of transgender community involvement with the 琉璃神社 Pride Society, spoke at the trans march and social on June 9 at the 琉璃神社 Art Gallery as part of Pride Week. During her speech she discussed the importance of sport, authenticity and inclusion in the trans community.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a real shame that we鈥檙e losing people in sport because they may not feel comfortable in the particular genderized [sic] sport that they鈥檙e in,鈥� said McWatters in an interview after the event.

She explained that she left competitive hockey in her late teens, after playing since the age of eight, because she didn鈥檛 feel comfortable going through men鈥檚 hockey.

鈥淚nside, I wasn鈥檛 a man.鈥�

She said that she wants to prevent other trans youth from leaving the sport that they love because of feelings that they don鈥檛 belong.

She sadded that it is important for both physical and mental health to be active and involved in the community, in whatever way feels most authentic.

The of transgender people have attempted suicide, with youth being particularly at risk.

The centre credits dysphoria and a lack of 鈥榖elonging鈥� to the high rates of suicide among trans youth.

The concept of trans people in sport can be divisive, explained McWatter. She said that people fear a discrepancy in physical development, attributed to testosterone during puberty.

鈥淚 can tell you that there is nobody that goes through transition just to they can win a race.鈥�

McWatters maintains that everyone deserves to participate in sport for their mental and physical health.

Despite experiencing gender dysphoria, McWatters remained involved in hockey as a referee, since the age of 12. She later coached and taught her own children the sport she loves so much.

After coming out as transgender in 2018, McWatters continued to officiate. After a game, she was approached by a local women鈥檚 hockey team, who asked if she was willing to play for them.

McWatters used to play goalie and she jokes that having a full-time goalie is really what made her new team the most excited about having her on the roster.

Once back on the ice, everything felt right, said McWatters.

鈥淚t felt amazing to be back playing the sport that I once loved.鈥�

Since then, she has joined a and has become a leader in the trans community with the Pride Society, B.C. hockey and hopes to work with hockey Canada in the future.

She said that sport is making steps towards inclusivity, explaining that in B.C., men鈥檚 hockey is now officially termed co-ed hockey.

She encourages people interested in learning more about inclusion in sport to visit for guidelines and policies making sport a safe space for LGBTQIA+ athletes.

Jacqueline.Gelineau@kelownacapnews.com
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