For transgender women who love soccer in England, June 1 marked a difficult day as a ban on their participation in women’s teams officially took effect.
In response, Goal Diggers Football Club, a trans-inclusive women’s team based in London, organized a tournament on Sunday to show support for the community and protest the decision by England’s football governing body.
The event, called the “Let The Dolls Play Tournament,” brought together about 100 participants—including women, trans women, non-binary, and gender non-conforming players—in Islington, north London. Despite the occasional rough play, the spirit of solidarity and resilience was clear.
Paula Griffin, a 60-year-old transgender woman, expressed the strength of the community: “They won’t take away this community, my friends. The people who care most about women’s sports are the ones who actually play. These are my friends.”
The group remains upset over last month’s decision by the Football Association (F.A.) to ban transgender women from women’s soccer teams starting June 1. This move followed an April ruling by the U.K. Supreme Court, which defined a woman for anti-discrimination laws as someone assigned female at birth.
Previously, the F.A. had allowed transgender athletes to compete on women’s teams if they kept their testosterone levels low. The new ruling prompted changes that now exclude transgender women from participation, as well as from women’s restrooms and hospital wards, according to the head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
While some feminist organizations welcomed the ruling, transgender rights advocates have condemned it, warning of its harmful and wide-ranging effects.
Billie Sky, a 28-year-old transgender woman, shared her emotional struggle: “This has been a really tough week. Sometimes I couldn’t even get out of bed. I’m doing my best to keep going with work and events like this, but it’s been really difficult.”
The issue has sparked heated debate across the U.K. and internationally, especially in the United States, where former President Donald Trump issued executive orders restricting transgender athletes’ participation in sports and enforcing strict sex-based definitions for federal policies. Those orders are currently facing legal challenges.
For those at the tournament in London, the fight continues, but for now, the focus is on cherishing the sport they love and standing united.
Jahnavi Kalayil, 26, summed up the mood: “Today is about reclaiming joy and spending time together. Whether we win or lose, it’s about community and standing up for our trans siblings.”