- Grace Wilson first non-binary footballer in Australia
- Goalkeeper Adelaide United, 18, wanted to be ‘free’
- Wilson has the support of her W-League teammates
Adelaide United goalkeeper Grace Wilson has become Australia’s first non-binary professional footballer and has expressed a burning desire to be ‘free’.
Wilson, 18, informed his teammates on Friday and the youngster declared they were feeling ‘phenomenal’ after receiving widespread support.
‘I am non-binary. That is it. I can’t deny it anymore,” Wilson said.
‘It was like this huge weight had been lifted, because I had felt like something was different for so long. ‘Finally hearing people call me ‘they/them’ is a phenomenal and euphoric feeling.’
Non-binary refers to people who do not feel exclusively male or female.
Adelaide United goalkeeper Grace Wilson has become Australia’s first non-binary professional footballer and has expressed her desire to be ‘free’
Wilson, 18, informed his teammates on Friday and the youngster declared they were feeling ‘phenomenal’ after receiving widespread support
‘I am non-binary. That is it. I can’t deny it anymore,” Wilson told reporters on Friday
Canadian star Quinn became the first non-binary athlete to compete in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where the midfielder won a gold medal in women’s football
Wilson’s announcement follows fellow Adelaide player Josh Cavallo confirming he was gay in 2021
Someone who is non-binary may feel like they are a mix of both genders, somewhere in between the two, or may feel like they have no gender at all.
Wilson’s coach Adrian Stenta felt education was key and confirmed the club supported the journey to reveal their pronouns to teammates.
“We just asked Grace what they wanted to do. We fully supported the way they did that and shared what is a very important moment in their lives and careers,” Stenta said. Nine news.
Wilson, who uses their pronouns, emphasized that it is important to use the correct terms when speaking to people.
“Not every non-binary person will use they/them, they may not have a preference for pronouns, they can use any of them,” she said.
‘It is very important; you don’t realize how much difference it makes.
“I didn’t know it, but it’s uplifting to finally hear people refer to me as being/them.”
Wilson’s announcement follows Adelaide player Josh Cavallo’s confirmation that he was gay in 2021.
Canadian star Quinn became the first non-binary athlete to compete at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where the midfielder won a gold medal in women’s football.
On Saturday evening, Sydney will host the Mardi Gras, where more than 12,000 people across 200 floats are expected to take part in the 46th annual parade.