Mara Gomez became the first transgender female footballer to participate in Argentina's women’s championship in December 2020. After years of struggle, she made her debut in the Primera Division against Lanus at Villa San Carlos in Berisso (Argentina) after suffering from discrimination, persecution and abuse. She believes that football saved her life and wants to share her powerful voice and experience to show the world the importance and love of equality, love, and opportunity.Mara, who is only 24 years old, is reluctant to become an activist. However, she hopes her story will inspire anyone trying to find the light at the end.She tells ESPN's senior writer Tom Hamilton all about her journey to fulfill her dream of playing football. But she also explains why she is still far from being finished.Editor's Note: This was edited from two 90-minute Zoom interviews with Mara. Interviews were conducted in Spanish. These transcripts were then translated into English. Except for certain idioms that did not transfer directly, we kept her words as clear as possible.This story is also available in Spanish and Portuguese"Football keeps me together"Because it was difficult for me to imagine myself as a professional football player, I feel like I am living an unrealized dream. It was difficult for me to imagine myself as someone who could fill a limited space within something. This is not only because of institutional rules, but also because of cultural and ideological ideas. Football's "place" has always been occupied primarily by men.Because it was, I have always considered "football" to be a kind of painkiller. It wasn't because I was looking for a hobby. I said, "I'm going football because I want something." Football helped me to navigate the emotional issues and all of the suffering that I had to deal with every day because I was subjected daily to discrimination and exclusion. I also felt the fear and anxiety about the future. What would I be capable of accomplishing in terms of a decent job, education, and the right to live a normal life? These are my fundamental rights.Gomez made history when she made her debut as a striker for Villa San Carlos, Argentina, on December 7, 2020. JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty ImagesAs I have said before and will continue to say, football is my therapy, my source of emotional support, and it's my lifestyle. It saved my life because I experienced suicidal episodes as a teenager, and football was the only thing that helped me forget those thoughts.Football is what keeps me emotionally connected; it's my life. It's also my job at the moment.Where did I come from?I reside in La Plata in the Buenos Aires Province. It is in the La Granja neighbourhood. My family and I share the same lot. There are three houses there.I live in my own house at the front. My family lives in the house at the bottom of the lot. It's the largest of all three houses. My sister lives in the house at bottom with her partner, her daughter and their son. Our family is large. My mom, my sister, my husband and brother-in-law live with me. We share the same spaces, even though we live apart. We eat lunch together, and we share dinner together. As a family, we share our meals together. We are always united.Every time I imitated or played a role in my childhood, it was always a female one. Every role I played was a mother, sister, daughter, aunt, or other female role. I was confused about how I felt until I was 11. It was then that I realized that I wanted Mara Gomez to be my life, that I wanted a woman and that I felt like one.Around that time, I started to see myself differently and shift my appearance from being a typical mama's boy into a typical mama's daughter.A 1998 photo of Mara as a 1-year old. "Throughout my childhood, I always played or imitated a woman whenever possible. Mara GomezAlthough my family was there to support me during this time, I found strength wherever I could. I could not find a way to keep my head together. I didn't understand why my school was so discriminatory. I couldn’t even get in the girls' room, because teachers wouldn’t let me. It was hard for me to understand why I would go to the doctor, and then have my identity taken away.As a child, I felt isolated. I was always vulnerable to my emotions and this made it difficult for me to believe that I wanted to live. I believed this was not the life I wanted, and that it wasn’t for me. I also believed that I didn’t deserve to be here. Discrimination was one of my most difficult moments. They have all been overcome by football.I started playing tennis when I was fifteen years old. There were no women's leagues in La Plata so I was expelled. Although there were local tournaments, when they put on an inter-municipal women’s tournament between cities, I was not allowed to play because I was still classified male on my ID card. I was just beginning to play the sport. I was not immediately gifted or able to boast the skills that I have now. Women's football was new in our area, so it was quite a surprise to see a transgender girl playing on the pitch.The Gender Identity Law was passed by Argentina on May 8, 2012. It allows transgender individuals to change their names and genders on their identity cards. Mara was 18 years old when La Plata began to host women's football tournaments. On March 16, 2019, Argentina's women's football became professional.The ID card was a relief. It was liberating. I felt free to say that my identity was clearly stated on the ID card and I would be able to show it to anyone I meet. It won't be necessary for me to explain that my document's name doesn't accurately reflect how I feel or identify myself.Instead, I felt more confident. I was able to go to college, sign up for classes and become Mara Gomez. I could also have a medical checkup and then be called Mara Gomez.Mara (top right) poses for photos after she won a tournament in Toronto City. Courtesy Mara GomezGender Identity Law, and the document I received at that time, was a significant part of my life. It opened doors for me. It opened up new possibilities for me and allowed me to be part of the football world, in a space that was previously restricted.The document provided me with the security that I did not have as a teenager, starting at the age of 18.Football is what you needI attended a tryout. There were approximately 25 girls there. The tournament was for seven players, instead of 11. They were looking for players, and they chose me. They knew that I was transgender and told everyone they would treat me like any other player. They assured me that they would respect me. They said that they would respect me if I had my ID.When I was 18 years of age, I began to learn about the sport and started playing in leagues. That's when my journey started as a football player.I was a member of the Liga Lifipa, an Independent Platense Youth Football League that was founded in La Plata in 1976. Toronto City was proud to have signed the first trans player in Liga Lifipa. I say "they" because Hugo Sueldo, the club president, was the one who chose me. In all honesty, this was when I became a league player to my supporters and opponents. Although I still suffered from discrimination at 15, it was not the same scale as when I was 15.Mara is in the air after her Las Malvinas team won back to back tournaments in 2019. She was the highest scorer in both competitions. Mara GomezThere were many rivals who didn't want me to play against them at the time, because they believed my presence was a disadvantage. Some of them would become my teammates and their perception of me has changed.When you used to say "trans girls", the first thing people thought of was prostitution and crime in Argentina. But, I began to change the perception that people had about the football industry. I helped them see a different side to being transgender girls.My profile in the football world rose when I became a professional player. People started to notice me as a transgender girl. Mara Gomez was also my football player. I was offered the chance to join Villa San Carlos. Although I knew there were top-flight teams interested in me, they hesitated to sign me as they were afraid of what might happen.Villa San Carlos then opened the door to me. Juan Cruz, their manager, invited me to join his team because of my playing style. He was impressed by my playing abilities. He called me and made me part his team. This was when professional football's 'inclusion revolution began.Villa San Carlos signed Mara in 2020 and she made her debut that December. Mara Gomez"If I don’t comply, I’m out of the group."To be able to step into professional sports, I had a lot of challenges. I had to fight to be included and I had to evaluate the legal grounds that could support my case.The International Olympic Committee issued guidelines regarding transgender athletes participating in professional sports. I had to comply with them. These guidelines stipulate that a transgender female must undergo a 12-month-long hormone treatment to ensure that her hormone levels are within the recommended range of 1-10 nanomoles/liter testosterone.These standards were met and I was able to participate in professional competitions.I met with the Argentina FA to discuss my case. For me, football is not just a right, but a necessity. It should be accessible to all regardless of gender or sex.Three meetings were held with the AFA before the March 2020 decision. Each meeting was pleasant and we all signed an agreement. I agreed to receive hormonal treatment as I was doing it already and to comply with the hormone standards to be competitive. I must have hormone testing before every season. If the results are within the guidelines, I am eligible to compete.Gomez plays as a striker for Villa San Carlos, her professional team. She is tested before each season to make sure she meets the IOC's hormone standards. JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty ImagesMy family was the first to hear the news. We didn't want others to know. It was important that we kept it secret until my official debut. We had to wait until football resumed before we could announce the news.My hormone treatments can have a significant impact on my emotions. Lockdown had a negative impact on me as I was restricted, unable train with the group, unable play, and unable do one thing that keeps my together and is good to me. Lockdown isolation caused me to feel sadness, anger, anxiety, and nervousness. These were times when it was impossible to bear anything. I also didn't want the group to continue doing these things so we could compete.Even though I am able to play, the treatment is still discriminatory. If I don't meet the standards, I will be kicked out of the team until I'm tested again. This is not something I believe any female footballer or player would be asked for. However, these tests are done on me because I am transgender.I feel different. This has long-term and short-term emotional and physical effects. I feel different. Emotional changes, such as mood swings, are what I feel. I also feel weaker from the treatments. They take away my performance and even muscle mass. It reduces my endurance; I feel tired faster and I am at a disadvantage to my opponents and teammates.Long-term effects can be caused by the treatment, such as an increase in breast cancer risk. We had to accept that in order to have one foot in professional football and to be able to start to imagine inclusive professional football. We are fighting for inclusion and trying to make it happen.Gomez celebrates with her team following her victory over Villa San Carlos vs. Lanus. Photo by Mara Gomez and @analiagarciaph"I feel that I have a lot support around me"On December 7, 2020, I made my debut against Lanus for Villa San Carlos. I couldn't get to sleep the night before because I was so happy. After months of being unable to play due to the lockdown and the pandemic, I was emotional, nervous, and anxious when I stepped onto the pitch. It was the moment that I was most proud of as a footballer and for my country.Villa San Carlos, my team, has had many difficulties due to financial problems. The facilities where we train have helped us overcome these obstacles. We have also experienced many defeats. The team is all new and has been reassembled with brand-new players. We are still getting to know one another. The girls are trying their best and doing everything they can to get to know each other. I am a striker. That's what my job on the field is. It has been about focusing on that.It was thrilling because, despite Villa San Carlos' 7-1 loss, Villa San Carlos became the first transgender player to be included at the professional level. It was thrilling when Lanus brought me a shirt with my name on it. Because I was already overwhelmed by emotion, I burst into tears. They made me feel like a professional athlete. They made me feel loved. They understood my moment and knew that despite the rivalry between the clubs (both are from Buenos Aires), they were open to the idea of inclusion. It's all about respecting everyone and making the game [accessible] for everyone, regardless their gender.It's not true that I received the gift from Lanus. I also received messages from top-flight women's players in Argentina, as well as players from other countries. It was a great feeling of support and it was a lot of fun. I still feel that I have a lot support around me. They will be there tomorrow, if needed.Play 1:16 Mara Gomez's story: What Mara Gomez hopes other people learn from it Mara Gomez told ESPN that her story inspired her to teach others to love and respect each other."I didn't think I would become an activist."My family is so happy about everything I do, the things we accomplish and all that it means. This is not only for me, but also for the society. My family supports me. They give me space and understand that since I'm training, I don't spend much time at home. When I am at home, I'm either studying or giving interviews, as I'm doing now. My family supports me and understands me. They are always excited to see what the future holds. They are so happy that everything is happening to me. And, obviously, they also understand that football is an integral part of me and can't take it away.They have become accustomed to my routine and see me as a footballer or student. They are my greatest admirers.Lorena [Berdula] is my first female manager in Argentina. In 1997, she also founded the Estudiantes de La Plata women's soccer team.Mara right after Lanus presented her with a name jersey during her pro debut. "They made me feel more supported than the rivalry between our teams." JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty ImagesMy inspirations are Brazil's Marta and Megan Rapinoe, who both mobilize society and link it to our fight for equality within the sport. I meet up with the 1971 pioneers, the Argentina team that represented Argentina in the 1971 Women's World Cup. We'll share space, and we'll tell our stories.I didn't think I would become an activist. It happened because other people thanked and praised me for standing up for myself, for speaking out, for being strong. Because they have their own children, both sons and daughters, parents have written to me to thank me for changing their perceptions. Because they begin to see things from a more compassionate and empathic perspective.Argentina is a leader in the field. Because there are many LGBTQ+ communities around the globe, I hope this experience is replicated across the globe. This is also due to the fact that it comes from years of struggle by the LGBTQ+ community. We could have a Gender Identity Law here in the country and be recognized as such by the state. It is also a sign of the beginning of more opportunities for future generations so that they don't have as many hurdles to participate in this sport.Not only do I have to score goals on the pitch, but I also feel pressure because I am a pioneer. Everything I do will leave a legacy for the future.That's what I have to do. It's not just about going to training, or worrying about whether I would play on the weekend. It is important to remember all the hard work and tools that must be used in order to make professional sports truly inclusive. We must fight with all of our might to ensure inclusion is tangible, efficient, and without any kind of obstacles.Mara holds the trophy she won in a 2021 preseason tournament. "I don't know if this is true happiness... but it's a feeling of complete joy that I'm achieving everything I was scared of as a teenager." Mara Gomez"My role is to teach"People can change their thinking and I know this because I've lived it in the football world. From the fact that I was not allowed to play against an opponent player to seeing her support me and join me is a great example. This is why I feel obliged as an activist. So that everyone who reads this story can have a different view of what this is and what nonbinary means. All human beings are equal and deserving of the same dignity and respect. We all deserve to be included in all aspects of society.Despite being a professional footballer I'm about to finish my nursing degree. Although I have many positive and good things around me, there are times when I feel weak and defenseless. To give me strength, I consult a psychologist. Sometimes I feel like I need to let go of everything and just leave it all behind. There are too many limitations, too many conditions. Sometimes, hormonal treatment makes it seem like I will never be completely free.My role today is to educate, encourage, and help people realize that they can achieve their dreams. Through my story, I want to show them that discrimination is hurtful and ostracizing and that everyone has the right to live a life of dignity. We can aspire to be part of all the good things for us.There is a time in the world that we are here, and we must use that time to make a difference, to help others, and to create spaces that we love. Life is meant to be lived. It's a precious gift that we should enjoy to the fullest. We have to give ourselves the space and opportunity to do all we want, all the things we enjoy doing. That people can listen to and respect one another. To love.Because I still face obstacles and adversities, I don't know if this is true happiness. They are still there, but I'm glad that I can accomplish everything I used to be afraid of as a teenager.
