Colombia: Trans women form football club and hold own ‘World Cup’
A group of trans women have formed an all-trans football club to celebrate the World Cup.
According to a report from Vocativ, the trans women concocted the club as a way to combat transphobia.
Trans leader Mariana said: “With the World Cup, we are honouring and are proud of Colombia.
“We are trans, but we are still Colombians, and we want to be involved in Colombian society.”
“Trans people get treated badly [in Colombia… we are beaten or discriminated against.
There are differences among trans people. There are trans people that take care of themselves and have dignified jobs.
“There are other trans people that go into [sex work]. Those are the ones rejected by society… there is a lot of war and envy among trans people.”
One of the participants said: “We hope there will be acceptance from the community with our game.
“There is a tendency to fear what you don’t understand, but people can see trans girls play. This is a way for people to get to know us.”
The World Cup, which is being hosted in the neighbouring Brazil, is due to conclude on Sunday.
Fans of both Brazil and Mexico were heard chanting homophobic insults, but FIFA dropped its investigation against Mexico, concluding that anti-gay chants by the country’s fans were “not considered insulting”.
