Team Trans-Tastic! All Trans soccer team

https://www.outsports.com/2025/1/31/24106889/kicking-out-soccer-trans-athlete-sin-city-classic-football/

Kicking Out Transphobia is still in its post-tournament happy place, radiating the sort of positivity that is understandably in short supply for trans athletes and the transgender community elsewhere.

The community soccer project recently entered “Team Trans-tastic” into the Sin City Classic in Las Vegas and came away with bronze medals and a trophy for their efforts.

But with new friendships forged and a powerful statement made by trans athletes just days before the first in a series of anti-trans executive orders and memos was signed in the White House, this story is about resilience, not results.

Beaming with pride at the presentation ceremony were captains Aaron Wixson and Shakira Madrigal, who both “did an amazing job organizing the team,” says KOT founder Yunio Martinez.

Aaron usually plays with San Diego Sparks, a predominantly LGBTQ club, but was excited to travel to Las Vegas to make his KOT bow.

He knew that, on the field, similar skills and experiences combined with a shared love for the game would help with communication.

“My Spanish isn’t very good but I had so much fun playing on this all-trans team, regardless of any language barrier!” he tells Outsports.

“Everyone was so supportive and welcoming. It’s an amazing feeling to play with other people like you.”

KOT started as a charity event in Philadelphia back in 2022, with its first all-trans match at the Sin City Classic held the following year, in partnership with the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA). Yunio is also IGLFA’s Diversity Director.

This year, it was the first time for us putting a team together,” they explain, describing how “Team Trans-Tastic” in Vegas came about. “In the tournament, we won third place, and we also had Best Goalkeeper.”

Aaron was the winner of the Julia Zuniga Award for Fair Play, which is named after a trans soccer player who was slain in Mexico.

Aaron’s honor reflects his galvanizing force and the leadership he provides. He is used to taking on the responsibility of representation — he is a U.S. Marine veteran who made global headlines in 2016 when he went public about his transition. He was a 20-year-old Lance Corporal at the time.

“The most important thing to me is visibility, especially now,” he adds. “Any young person should be able to see themselves in their favorite sports player.

“It’s a basic human desire to play, to compete, to socialize, and exercise. Trans people belong in sports, and they should have the freedom to play at any level.

“We deserve to be excellent, terrible, or anything in between, without any judgement based on identity.”

To continue with our mission support Team Transtastic, the team compete in tournaments and recreational leagues.