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Winning the Battle for Gender Diverse Athletes
by Harrison Browne
Debunks myths and misconceptions around the volatile debate about the participation of gender-diverse athletes while advocating for the inclusion of trans and nonbinary athletes across all levels of sport.
The recent anti-trans commentary around the 2024 Summer Olympics and the wave of anti-trans sports law around the world often includes disturbing provisions and biases that perpetuate harmful stigmas that even amount to abuse. In Let Us Play, trans athlete Harrison Browne and investigative journalist Rachel Browne weave together the narratives and distorted facts behind the headlines, revealing that the opposition towards gender diverse athletes is fueled by fear and a moral panic as opposed to facts around what makes "a level playing field."
The stakes have never been higher for the inclusion of gender diverse people in sport and society. With increased visibility, they are facing physical harm and violence—including death—at unprecedented rates. The world of sports, particularly at youth levels, has become the latest battleground in the fight for basic human rights and equality. Combining thorough scientific research with exclusive accounts—from athletes, coaches, policymakers, and advocates on the front lines—Let Us Play dismantles the illusion that sports have ever been fair, that trans athletes pose a threat to women's sports, and that gender-affirming healthcare for athletes should be prohibitive to play.
Calling for a reframing and expansion of the binaries at all levels of the sport, Let Us Play offers a new path forward, led by solutions proposed by trans, nonbinary, and gender diverse athletes themselves.
"This well-researched, trenchantly argued, and compassionately written book is a must-read for those invested in the fight against transphobia. Deftly combining memoir-style profiles of trans athletes with political analysis, the authors clearly and adeptly dismantle both the patriarchal, transphobic basis of anti-trans policies and our preconceived notions about gender, ability, and sport. A strong argument for dismantling gender segregation in sports." —Kirkus Reviews
"This book succeeds in clearly exploring topics that range from the current political climate to hormones, the Olympics, locker room etiquette, and NCAA rules and regulations by forgoing overly technical language. Let Us Play offers a compelling case of a human-rights issue while reminding readers that gender diverse athletes, like cisgender athletes, just want to play freely and be part of a team." —Booklist
"Finally, a thoughtful deep dive into the intersection of sports and trans experiences! Tackling one of the most contentious and critical issues in sports today—the human right for gender diverse athletes to compete—Browne and Browne expose the moral-panic machine and challenge readers to envision a future in which all athletes are free to play without prejudice. Let Us Play is not just a call to action—it's a vital road map for equality in sports and beyond." —Amos Mac, coeditor of Original Plumbing: The Best of Ten Years of Trans Male Culture
"Much has been said about trans athletes, but not enough has been said by trans athletes. I knew those who opposed trans athletes were steeped in misguided fear, but this book gave me the language and research to articulate why that is. Trans athletes have always been here; the moral panic about them is a newly invented and stoked diversion. Let Us Play is about more than trans athletes; it's about gender in sports and the ways in which misogyny, sexism, and rigidity are ruining the joyous experience of athleticism for everyone." —Gabe Dunn, coauthor of I Hate Everyone But You
This information about Let Us Play was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Harrison Browne is the first transgender athlete in professional hockey. He was part of the National Women's Hockey League and played for the Metropolitan Riveters and the Buffalo Beauts (winning a championship with both teams). He helped form the first-ever transgender policy in professional sports to aid both transmen and transwomen in their participation. He is the appointed inclusion leader for the NWHL advisory board and special ambassador for the National Hockey League's Hockey Is for Everyone initiative. Harrison has been featured in the New York Times, GQ Magazine, Players' Tribune, The Olympic Channel, VICE News, ESPN and many more news outlets. He continues to participate in talks and panels throughout North America and internationally.
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