Kye Allums: The Man Who Changed the Game
February 5, 2018
Born Oct. 23, 1989, Kye Allums is a former NCAA Division I college athlete. He is also the first college basketball player to openly play as a trans man (but not the first to play).
When Kye was in high school he identified as a lesbian, but that identification never really felt right. It wasn’t until his first year of college that he realized he was transgender.
However, Kye was playing basketball for George Washington University and didn’t know how to tell his teammates and coaches he identified as trans for fear of losing his scholarship and would no longer be able to play—but he wanted to be himself, so he spoke to his team.
Soon after, the university changed the roster from Kay-Kay to Kye, reflecting the change, and the team began calling Kye by his preferred name, as well as using male pronouns. He was allowed to stay on the team and continue playing. And, his teammates often corrected those who called Kye by the wrong pronouns, helping him to get the respect he deserved and providing him with unwavering support. *YAS SUPPORT SYSTEM! COME THROUGH TEAMMATES/FRIENDS!*
The women’s GWU’s program also wholeheartedly supported Kye’s right to make the decision to come out as a trans man. And Kye felt as though his game improved after telling those around him about his transition, saying he felt like he was able to have more focus on just basketball and not have to worry about his outside life.
After suffering 8 concussions and only managing to play in 8 game his junior year, Kye decided not play for GWU his senior year, citing having some memory problems and being unsure whether or not he would even be cleared to play.
Kye Allums graduated from George Washington University in 2011 with a B.A. in Fine Arts. After leaving the school, he traveled around the country and spoke about life as a transgender person, visiting high schools, colleges, and universities. He discussed confronting bullies, how playing on a team as transperson is definitely possible, and the transgender community.
And in 2015, he was inducted into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame.
