<p>With transgender inclusion in sports being the target of intense political attacks, I was grateful to speak with an athlete who has been a leading voice for inclusive sport. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/withgracetoo/">Grace McKenzie</a> (she/her) is a transgender woman and lifelong athlete who found an inclusive and welcoming support network within the U.S, women's rugby community, which she describes as the most transformative experience of her transition journey. She was recruited to her first team in 2019, and played for 7 years across the United States for highly competitive clubs including the Berkeley All Blues and the New York Rugby Club.</p><p></p><p>When World Rugby announced its plans to ban trans women internationally from the sport in 2020, Grace took action by organizing a global movement in opposition. She started a petition that accumulated over 25,000 signatures, and has engaged hundreds of clubs and dozens of professional athletes around the world through<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/rugbyforall.co/"> Rugby for All</a> an organization that she helped co-found, and as an Advisory Council member of the<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/sportandrightsalliance/"> Sport &amp; Rights Alliance</a>&nbsp; Since then, Grace has shared her story and advocacy at numerous forums around the world including the United Nations, prior to her retirement from the sport in early 2025.</p><p></p><p>YouTube: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtu.be/lgtcGR0bd6U">https://youtu.be/lgtcGR0bd6U</a></p><p>Transcript: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H_ky1ylon2lSY15Yn71MNgvCV-ln_gVErIEwmYsT1LM/edit?tab=t.0">https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H_ky1ylon2lSY15Yn71MNgvCV-ln_gVErIEwmYsT1LM/edit?tab=t.0</a><br></p><p>You can follow Grace on Instagram @withgracetoo&nbsp;</p><p>Rugby for All <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/rugbyforall.co/">https://www.instagram.com/rugbyforall.co/</a></p><p>Sports &amp; Rights Alliance <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/sportandrightsalliance/">https://www.instagram.com/sportandrightsalliance/</a></p><p></p><p>You can learn more about resources for transgender figure skaters and their allies at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://skatingpartner.com">skatingpartner.com</a></p><p></p><p>You can reach me with comments or suggestions for topics and people I should talk to, by email at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or Instagram @futurefspodcast&nbsp;</p><p></p><p>If you appreciate the podcast, you can also support my work with a one-time or ongoing donation on Ko-Fi, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating">www.ko-fi.com/futureoffigureskating</a></p><p></p><p>Links:</p><p>Grace powerfully represented trans women in the debate at the Play the Game conference, which you can watch here: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.playthegame.org/conferences/play-the-game-2025/live-streaming/">https://www.playthegame.org/conferences/play-the-game-2025/live-streaming/</a></p><p></p><p>New USFS “Category Policy” (October 2025)</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://usfigureskating.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a74f8ee4ba91875df45aa1592&amp;id=cca7538f2a&amp;e=412852edf6">https://usfigureskating.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a74f8ee4ba91875df45aa1592&amp;id=cca7538f2a&amp;e=412852edf6</a></p><p></p>