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Official site of

Harrison Browne

Transgender Author, Filmmaker, Speaker and Retired Professional Athlete

About

Harrison Browne is the first transgender athlete in professional hockey.

He was part of the National Women's Hockey League and played for the Metropolitan Riveters and the Buffalo Beauts (winning a championship with both teams).

During his tenure in the NWHL, Harrison was a trailblazer and pioneer for LGBTQ rights. He helped form the first ever transgender policy in professional sports to aid both transmen and transwomen in their participation. He is the appointed Inclusion Leader for the NWHL advisory board and special ambassador for the National Hockey League's Hockey Is For Everyone initiative. Through his efforts, Harrison was recognized in 2016 by The Hockey News as one of hockey's 100 Top People of Power.

Throughout Harrison's decorated hockey career, he has represented Team Canada in the 2011 U18 Championship and won a silver medal in Stockholm, Sweden. He also represented Team Ontario during the 2011 Canada Winter Games where he also won a silver medal.

The Oakville, Ontario native started his NCAA Div. 1 college hockey career playing at Mercyhurst University for his award winning rookie season. Harrison then transferred to the University of Maine to continue playing and finish out the remaining three years of his college career. After graduating, Harrison joined the NWHL as a member of the Buffalo Beauts where he was named to the 2017 All-Star team and won the championship.

Awards and Recognitions

2018, 2017 Isobel Cup Champion

2017 NWHL All-Star

2018, 2017 NWHL Fan Favourite

2017 Outsports Male Hero of the Year

Named to The Hockey News' 100 Most Influential People in Hockey List (2016)

2011 IIHF World U18 Silver Medalist

2011 Canada Winter Games Silver Medalist

Author

Let Us Play: Winning the Battle for Gender Diverse Athletes

Editorial reviews

“This well-researched, trenchantly argued, and compassionately written book is a must-read for those invested in the fight against transphobia. Deftly combining memoir-style profiles of trans athletes with political analysis, the authors clearly and adeptly dismantle both the patriarchal, transphobic basis of anti-trans policies and our preconceived notions about gender, ability, and sport. A strong argument for dismantling gender segregation in sports.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“This book succeeds in clearly exploring topics that range from the current political climate to hormones, the Olympics, locker room etiquette, and NCAA rules and regulations by forgoing overly technical language. Let Us Play offers a compelling case of a human-rights issue while reminding readers that gender diverse athletes, like cisgender athletes, just want to play freely and be part of a team.”
—Booklist

“Get your head out of your phone and stop doomscrolling. Read Let Us Play instead.”
—Jay Onrait, sports anchor

“More urgent than ever before, Let Us Play is a crucial playbook that athletes and nonathletes alike can use to help make sports an inclusive place for all.”
—Meghan Duggan, 3-time Olympian and Olympic gold medalist, USA Women’s Hockey

“Whether you’re a sports fan, an ally, or someone navigating their own path toward self-acceptance, Let Us Play will shed light on the unique challenges trans athletes face.”
—Chris Mosier, transgender athlete and activist

“This book is a gift. Let’s make sure it gets into the hands of those who need it. . . . The message is a simple one: everyone should have the right to play.”
—Dave Zirin, sports editor, The Nation

“A generous and necessary resource for navigating some of our most urgent sociopolitical issues.”
—Chase Joynt, author of Vantage Points

“Finally, a thoughtful deep dive into the intersection of sports and trans experiences! . . . A vital road map for equality in sports and beyond.”
—Amos Mac, coeditor of Original Plumbing: The Best of Ten Years of Trans Male Culture

“An invaluable resource for anyone interested in the future of sports, gender equality, and the ongoing fight for inclusivity.”
—Colin Mochrie, actor and comedian

A crucial subversion of the misconceptions around the participation of gender diverse athletes—advocating for the inclusion of trans and nonbinary athletes across all levels of sport

The debate over the inclusion of gender diverse people in sport has become the latest battleground in the fight for basic human rights and equality. Trans and nonbinary people around the world are facing physical harm and violence—including death—at unprecedented rates. In Let Us Play, trans athlete Harrison Browne and investigative journalist Rachel Browne reveal how the opposition towards gender diverse athletes is fueled by fear and a moral panic as opposed to facts around what makes “a level playing field.”

Interweaving Harrison’s first-hand experience as a transgender athlete with exclusive accounts—from athletes, coaches, policymakers, and advocates on the front lines—Let Us Play dismantles the illusion that sports have ever been fair, that trans athletes pose a threat to women’s sports, and that gender-affirming healthcare for athletes should be prohibitive to play.

Calling for a reframing of the binaries from youth and high school levels all the way to the national leagues, Browne and Browne offer a new path forward, led by solutions proposed by gender diverse athletes themselves.

Buy the book! (USD)

Buy the Book! (CAD)

Acting

Speaking

Testimonials

Harrison was outstanding!

He delivered an emotionally relevant and educational keynote. He was clear and articulate and truly captivating. He was well received and got his great message across.

He was also strong and impactful on the panel.

-Laurel Walzak, Ryerson

Harrison was incredible this weekend. His presentation was honest and relatable and provided a really powerful way to start off our summit.

- Shawn Jeffers, GLSEN