Isabella Macbeth Cain
Isabella Macbeth Cain, Trustee of International Gay Rugby Diversity & Inclusion and Board Member Charleston Rugby spoke at a press conference to mark the start of Trans & Queer Field Day on Sunday, May 16, 2021.
The “Field Day” is a celebration of the coalition’s months-long effort to defeat bills to restrict transgender students in middle and high school from participating in school sports. Proposals like this were defeated on six separate occasions – twice in the House Judiciary Committee, and three times during negotiations around the state budget.
My name is Isabella Macbeth, and I play for a rugby club in Charleston, SC. I am a Trustee of International Gay Rugby Diversity & Inclusion and a Board Member for Charleston Rugby.
I’m so glad to be here at Field Day today, because sport has been such an important part of my life. It’s where I learned how to play on a team, how to win and how to lose, how to be a good sport. I learned leadership and grace, and it was also good for my mental and physical health.
I’ve been passionate about playing sports since I was five years old – and in high school, I secured 16 men’s varsity letters, prior to my transition. I then played sports in college and worked as a professional athlete. Sports helped me find acceptance in my new body, friendships, and even family who accepted me as my true self.
I started playing rugby a few years ago, and I fell in love with it. It provided me with the universal dream of belonging to something greater than myself, and finally being a part of something where my body wasn’t an issue. I played on the women’s team with no issue, and I was unequivocally accepted by my teammates.
Recently though, I’ve been in a struggle with World Rugby. They attempted to ban me and other trans women from participating in women’s rugby.
I have a glimpse, then, into what these anti-transgender bills are trying to do. They are trying to interfere with the basic humanity and dignity of transgender youth. They are trying to keep young people from experiencing the joys and triumphs of sports like any other young person.
We can’t – and won’t – let that happen. LGBTQ advocates and allies came out in full force this year against discriminatory measures, and I know that we’ll keep doing it as attacks are filed. I hope that I am living proof: Participation in athletics can be transformative, and barring anyone from participating in a game and being themselves is a colossal act of violence.