NFL player and LGBTQ+ activist, Ryan Russell is standing up for trans rights in a brand new essay. Partnering with The Guardian, the 29-year-old athlete released a heartfelt essay condemning the hateful rhetoric and legislation surrounding trans student-athletes.
At the start of the letter, Russell opens up about the roadblocks that POC’s and marginalized communities face in sports. “Being born Black, queer, trans or of any marginalized community puts you behind the starting line of any race, even when you might need that love and community more than we imagine,” he wrote.
He then went on to discuss the importance of giving trans-student-athletes the same opportunities that he and his NFL colleagues were afforded. “All kids need this.