Earlier this year, the US-based footballer – who goes by they/them pronouns – made headlines after they came out as a trans man. “In the future, I want to quit soccer and live as a man,” the 27-year-old revealed on YouTube.
Yokoyama’s monumental announcement was immediately embraced by the sports community and political figures like President Joe Biden.
Taking to Twitter, the 46th president praised the young athlete and NFL player Carl Nassib for their “courage.” “Because of you, countless kids around the world are seeing themselves in a new light today,” he wrote.
Six months later, Yokoyama has now opened up about their coming out journey in a new interview with The Japan Times. When asked about the public’s positive reception, the young