By DMITRY RASHNITSOV

photo courtesy: George Washington U

Kay-Kay Allums was an unimpressive point guard her first two seasons on the George Washington University’s women’s basketball team. But in her junior year, Allums will always be remembered for the statement she made off the court. The 21-year old has publicly come out as transgender, asking all teammates and coaches to refer to him as a male and changed his name to Kye. Allums will be the first transgender person ever to play NCAA Division I college basketball.

“It got too tough. It got too tough to not be me,” Allums said. “People would call me a girl and say, ‘she’ and refer to me as someone I knew I wasn’t.”

Allums knew she was transgender in high school but kept it to herself. She planned on finishing her college basketball career without telling anyone, but decided she could not take being called a girl anymore. George Washington University is located in Washington, D.C.

Allums will not be able to have surgery or begin hormone therapy while she is still playing basketball, but plans on fully converting once her playing days are over. Right now she wants to be a role model for other teens and young adults who may be struggling to come to terms with their transgender identity. “

I wanted to set an example for other people who are afraid to be themselves,” Allums said. Allums said it was very easy for her to tell her coaches and teammates, but writing an email to her brother took her 15 minutes to type and five hours to send. The young man said he has received an outpouring of love from her community, back home in Minnesota and all across the rest of the world. “GW has been supportive during this transition,” Allums said. “This means a lot. I didn’t choose to be born in this body and feel the way I do. I decided to transition, that is change my name and pronouns because it bothered me to hide who I am, and I am trying to help myself and others to be who they are.

I told my teammates first and they, including my coaches, have supported me. My teammates have embraced me as the big brother of the team. They have been my family, and I love them all.”

GW officials have publicly acknowledged the historic significance of Allums’ announcement.

“The George Washington University women’s basketball program, including myself, supports Kye’s right to make this decision,” said Mike Bozeman, head coach of the university’s women’s basketball team. Allums will play in his first game since his coming out on Nov. 13 at the Best Buy Classic in Minneapolis. He started 20 out of 26 games last year and averaged 7.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists in 24.9 minutes per game. Allums has a scholarship to play on the women’s basketball team, but at this point there are no indications that he will lose it. He has no plans to play for the George Washington men’s basketball team.

Allums announcement has helped others with their own transition. “Kye is a brave, courageous young man and I’m very proud of what he is doing,” said Anthony Jacob Nizza, a female-to-male transsexual who began his transition at age 39. “Makes me feel very proud to be who I am.”