Life Uncut

Life as a Trans Woman and an AFL Football Legend - Uncut with Danielle Laidley

Sep 17, 2024

Danielle Laidley, a trailblazing former AFL player and the youngest senior coach in history, shares her transformative journey from sporting success to embracing her true identity as a trans woman. She reflects on the struggles of growing up in a hyper-masculine environment, the traumatic public exposure of her transition, and the importance of understanding gender dysphoria. Danielle discusses the evolving attitudes in sports, the role of parents in supporting gender-diverse children, and her mission as an advocate for acceptance and authenticity.

44:07

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Episode guests

Danielle Laidley

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Danielle Laidley's transition highlights the profound emotional challenges and societal repercussions faced by transgender individuals in a highly masculine sport.

Through her advocacy, Danielle emphasizes the importance of family support and societal acceptance for the mental health of transgender people.

Deep dives

Danielle's Journey and Public Awakening

Danielle Laley, a prominent figure in Australian football, played 151 games and became one of the youngest senior coaches in the AFL. For decades, she harbored a secret about her gender identity, feeling a disconnect between her assigned gender at birth and her true self as a woman. The turning point came in May 2020 when a police officer leaked a photo of her in a vulnerable state, forcing her secret into the public eye. This incident acted as a catalyst, leading Danielle to embrace her identity and become an advocate for transgender rights and acceptance.

Intro

2min

An Embarrassing Flight Mix-Up

2min

Navigating Identity and Transition

17min

Facing Trauma: A Journey Through Law and Vulnerability

7min

Navigating Gender Identity in Sports

11min

Navigating Gender Dysphoria: The Parent's Role

5min

Before being known as Danielle Laidley, she was a hugely successful AFL player and played 151 games for West Coast Eagles and North Melbourne football clubs, and winning premierships and going onto be the youngest senior coach ever at 36, coaching North Melbourne for 149 games across seven seasons from 2003 to 2009.

For decades, Danielle kept her gender to herself and threw herself into sporting success and became a workaholic. Eventually the pain of keeping this secret led to some dark coping mechanisms like substance abuse.

In May, 2020, a police officer took a photo of Danielle in an interview room at a St Kilda police station while wearing a wig and make-up. This photo was shared in a group chat before it was leaked to the media & the public.

Now, following her diagnosis with gender dysphoria, Danielle works extensively as an advocate for transgender people, raising awareness in a quest for acceptance of diversity.

In this chat we speak about:

The different phases of Danielle's life & always knowing who she is
Growing up in the hyper masculine environments of football and cricket
How she coped with the public exposure of her transition before she had been able to speak with her family and friends about it
How the football world has responded to Danielle's transition
How parents can help support their kids who experience gender dysphoria
Her beautiful relationship with a woman she's known since grade 1
Danielle's perspective on transpeople in sport

You can find Danielle's Instagram and book - Don't look away

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