Yokoyama Kumi, a professional player who plays for Washington Spirit and former International player of Japan Women's Football Team, Yokoyama Kumi (よこやまくみ, Yokoyama Kumi), officially came out as a transgender man last June. At the end of last year, there was good news that Yokoyama and his girlfriend were married.
In Japan, there are very few athletes who can come out publicly, and Yokoyama said that he also decided to disclose his gender identity under the encouragement of his girlfriend: "When I thought that I would have to hide in the closet in the future, I found the courage to come out. ”
At the end of November 2021, Yokoyama and his girlfriend officially married in Virginia, USA. When posting good news on social networking sites, Yokoyama said that the marriage certificate in his hand was invalid in Japan and hoped that the process of legalizing same-sex marriage in Japan would gradually improve.
Yokoyama, who has released videos about his gender identity, has not felt like a girl since he was a child, and has even cried because he was forced to wear a kimono. After his public appearance, US President Joe Biden tweeted that Yokoyama's appearance was inspiring and "allowed countless children around the world to see themselves in a new light."
Yokoyama said in an interview that he will continue to work hard for the public welfare cause of LGBT equality in the future: "If influential people like me do not stand up and speak out, then society's awareness of transgender people will not increase." ”