After Being Harassed, This Spanish Trans Man Created The Country’s First Trans Men’s Football Team
24-year-old transgender man Hugo Martinez founded the team after he was no longer allowed to play on a women’s team following his transition.
A team made up entirely of transgender men has made its debut in Spain’s regional league, marking a first for both the country and Europe.
24-year-old transgender man Hugo Martinez founded the team after he was no longer allowed to play on a women’s team following his transition.
"I was a boy playing in the girls' team, but without a changed ID, so I wasn't yet allowed to play with boys," Martinez told Reuters.
Martinez also sought to create a safe and inclusive space for trans men who wanted to play soccer.
After three years, he officially set up Fenix FC, choosing a name inspired by the mythical bird that rises from its own ashes.
"Fenix is a team of trans boys created entirely by trans boys, but I think it's more than that – a family, a safe space where you can be free and express yourself however you want and how you really feel," Fenix FC’s captain, 19-year-old Luke Ibanez, told Reuters.
The team joined a local club in Barcelona, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, and are now officially competing in the fifth tier of the regional team in Catalonia.
Fenix FC made its debut on Sep. 21, when it was defeated 19-0, but still marked a milestone toward inclusivity.
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Kassy Cho
Kassy Cho
