Harrison Browne Criticizes USA Hockey's New Policy Restricting Transgender Participation in Sex-Specific Leagues

Harrison Browne, recognized as the first openly transgender athlete in North American professional team sports, has spoken out against USA Hockey's newly revised Participant Eligibility Policy. In an Instagram post discovered on January 22, 2026, and subsequent interviews, Browne described the policy as creating "absurd"barriers for transgender people seeking to play in recreational leagues, including "beer leagues"with longtime friends.

USA Hockey, the governing body for ice hockey in the United States and overseer of Olympic participation, quietly introduced the updated policy in November 2025. It replaces a more inclusive 2019 version and takes full effect on April 1, 2026, applying to youth, disabled, and adult leagues. The policy permits transgender athletes to participate in co-ed leagues but mandates competition in sex-specific leagues according to sex assigned at birth, with narrow exceptions. Transgender women must play in men's leagues, while transgender men must play in women's leagues unless they have undergone male hormone therapy, which would then disqualify them from women's programs.

Browne, who played professionally in the National Women's Hockey League from 2015 to 2018 after coming out as a transgender man in 2016, emphasized the policy's practical impact. "USA Hockey is essentially telling me I can’t play in a recreational league with friends I’ve played with throughout my entire career, he told Pride. om. He expressed concerns about safety for transgender women forced into men's leagues, noting potential exposure to "transphobia. . whether on the ice or behind closed doors in locker rooms. Browne has long advocated for transgender inclusion in sports, drawing from his experiences in women's hockey, which he described as a "safe space"where players often challenge gender norms.

The policy does not outright ban transgender participation but imposes conditions that Browne and others argue make it nearly impossible, particularly in recreational settings. Women's hockey organizations have responded variably; the Seattle Women’s Hockey Club posted on Instagram affirming their commitment to inclusivity: "our trans: it the board belief that community is for having it. belongs to who has up a or cheered their team that includes, regardless what USA says. A YouTube short also labeled the policy "exclusionary for trans people.

Browne linked the policy shift to broader political influences, stating, “We can’t ignore the fact the Trump Administration pressuring sports organizations to take a stance against trans participation in sports. He challenged fairness arguments often cited by policy supporters, asserting that "socioeconomic"factors like access to coaching, facilities, and equipment pose greater threats to equity than transgender participation. "Trans women, trans people are not the issue, Browne said.

This development echoes ongoing debates in sports governance over transgender inclusion. Browne's history underscores the personal stakes; after coming out at age 20 in college and publicly in 2016 while with the Buffalo Beauts, he chose to delay hormone therapy to continue playing women's professional hockey. Teammates at the time, like Paige Harrington, expressed acceptance, saying they were "used to it. He is who he is.

LGBTQ+ advocates view the USA Hockey policy as part of a pattern restricting transgender athletes, particularly in youth and recreational contexts. While co-ed options remain, the requirements for sex-specific leagues could limit community building in affirming spaces like women's hockey, which Browne praised for its gender-nonconforming culture. O As implementation nears, reactions from leagues and players will likely shape further discourse on balancing inclusion with competition standards.