#harrisonbrowne

I don’t think any of us could say this enough, but thank you. You are a wonderful person who is not only true to yourself but you’re true to the world. I apologize for only knowing about you since after your public announcement but you have inspired me. You give me a renewed hope for change in the world of sport but also in the world as a whole. Thank you for allowing yourself to be our leader if sorts because we know it made it that much harder. We will continue to love you! 

Being transgender and playing on the side of the sport that doesn’t align with your chosen gender can be tough at times. Having to explain why I play women’s hockey to strangers or sometimes feeling like I’m overlooked when someone assumes I’m a woman based on the team I play for is sometimes overwhelming.

Even through all of that, women’s hockey is such a special place to me. No matter how much the outside world may tear me down that day, my teammates will always be there to put a smile on my face.

I may dress differently and have a shorter hair style than most of my teammates, but our differences are what brings us closer together.

Cutting my hair short and wearing a suit all feels so natural to me now. I am so glad that I have gained the confidence to do all of this. I am 24 years old and am feeling very comfortable in my own skin, but there was a time where I wasn’t.

There was a time where I would look in the mirror and see someone with long hair reflecting. There was a time where I would look down to see feminine clothing that I didn’t want to wear.

I am well aware that clothing and hair should not be gendered and that is not the point of this post. The point of this is to show that a strangers perception of you or how society tells you to dress/look does not matter. All that matters is your comfort and your view of yourself.

The inner conflict of being transgender is overwhelming. There is so much out of my control; everything from the complexities of being viewed in society as something that you are not, to something as simple as just being called the wrong name. 

For me my name was something small that I could take control of, something I could take refuge in when everything else was so daunting. And that is exactly why I have it tattooed on my body. Every time I look at my arm, I see a reminder of my strength, a reminder of something that finally aligns with what is inside of me. 

I am Harrison Miller Browne. 

New video up on my channel!! Today I will be discussing how I picked my new name after I came out as transgender.  Picking a new name is definitely an exciting time, you can have a clean slate with a new identity.  

A thing that most people don’t talk about it the feeling of disconnect with a new name at first.  I had been going by my previous name for DECADES, so it was tough for me to really feel comfortable being addressed as Harrison.  

Here are some of my tips on how I picked my name and also got used to it.