Former BC Lions player Maven Maurer made history last year when she announced she’s transgender.
Maurer played more than 10 years in the CFL and won two Grey Cups, including one with the Lions in 2000, and is now the first openly transgender former professional football player to ever play in either the CFL or NFL.
The 49-year-old, who was known as Mike during her playing days, returned to BC Place on September 13 to be celebrated as part of that championship team and discussed the event during an exclusive interview with 3 Down Nation’s J.C. Abbott.
“I wasn’t able to fully enjoy and fully savour those moments that are truly special in the football world and I was able to appreciate this. I was able to really soak it in. It was so healing,” she said to Abbott.
The Saskatoon native publicly revealed her transition on social media in the summer of 2023. This season, she made her first major public appearance since that announcement, when the 2000 team was honoured at BC Place.
“Absolutely euphoric night with my fellow teammates, being able to celebrate as my authentic self,” she wrote on social media after the event.
“I’m so grateful I was able to be a part of the event, and didn’t let limiting beliefs or self-doubt prevent me from participating. Never let those negative feelings and fear dictate your decision-making.”
Maurer won her second Grey Cup in 2005 while with the Edmonton Eskimos (now Elks). She was also named to Edmonton’s All-Decade team for the 2000s as a special teams player.
Not only was she a professional football player, she also has multiple professional fights under her belt in combat sports.
While Maurer is the first openly transgender former professional football player, there are 17 in total who are members of the LGBTQ+ community. There will be more over time, especially as people like Maurer blaze the trail for others to follow.
“I want to try to reach more people,” she told 3 Down Nation. “I want to be more visible. I want to use any voice that I have to raise awareness. One of the things I talked about with my therapist is when you shine your light and other people see it, it secretly gives them permission to shine theirs. Sometimes you don’t know that things are a possibility until you see someone else doing it.”