Verity Smith is a trans gay man who is passionate about playing wheelchair rugby.
After first coming out as a lesbian in the 90s, Verity played women's rugby and was too afraid to come out as trans, as there were no policies in place for trans players in the game and he would have had to give up the sport he loved.
He did eventually come out and was faced with a barrage of transphobia and discrimination.
After a devastating injury incurred on the pitch, Verity ended up in a wheelchair, but found an incredible community in wheelchair rugby.
Verity's story is ultimately one of acceptance, self-discovery, and love. As well as a celebration of the resilience and strength embodied by the LGBTQ+ community.
Verity is Chief Diversity Officer for the World Barbarians and Trans Sport Inclusion Manager for the brilliant charity Mermaids
Presented by Emma Goswell
Produced by Sam Walker
We'd love to hear YOUR story. Please get in touch www.comingoutstoriespodcast.com or find us on twitter @ComeOutStories and on Instagram @ComingOutStoriesPod
We have a book! Coming Out Stories is available at all major shops now!
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Coming Out Stories is a What Goes On Media Production
Special Episode: Queer We Are with Coming Out Stories' Emma Goswell and Sam Walker
Brad: For more than 30 years I convinced myself "I can't be gay. I will change someday"
EJ: I’ve had quite the internal war about how I identify. I don’t want to use the labels that society gives us!
Andrew: I told myself that being bisexual was just a phase. It was not!
Grady: For forty years, I prayed for God to "fix me" Then I realised there was nothing to fix.
Lucy Lou: The moment I put that dress on, I thought "I'm here!"
Day: It took me all night to garner the courage but at sunrise, I came out to her
Mark: I was so nervous, I had to leave the room, and came out to my mom from the kitchen.
Yo Yo: I grew up where it was illegal to be gay. I had to write love letters to my girlfriend in code
Andrew: I don't want to be hemmed into a box. I've done that for so many years.
Jennie: "So many people knew they were gay from a young age, but that's just not my story""
Jaxon: Walking back into work as a trans man was the most frightening thing I've ever done, but I've seen so many people change their mindset."
Rob: “I tried so hard to change who I was. I changed the way I dressed, the way I spoke and even the way I walked. I didn’t feel safe being myself.”
Serena: When I came out to my 9 year old son, he said “Mammy, that’s very brave of you!"
A National Coming Out Day special!
Paris: From the time I was a young kid, I always felt really connected to being both male and female
Oh! Hello season four!
Oskar: “Identity is an internal thing, not how you look to other people”
Divina de Campo “If ever there was a little queerdo kid – it was me”
Angela and Lucia: “We painted “Lesbians are everywhere!” on the sides of buildings!”
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