Welcome back to getting curious, honey, I'm switching it up. I'm not doing that same intro every time anymore. It's been years and we're doing something new. I hope you're feeling gorgeous. I already know you're gorgeous. You know, I'm Jonathan Van Ness. Each week we're sitting down, we're learning more together, we're love and life together.

On today's episode, I'm joined by Verity Smith, where I ask him,

who wins when everyone plays?

Welcome to Getting Curious, This is Jonathan Van Ness. We're giving update. We're giving how our

trans family is doing honey because we know that sports are about so much more than

competition or college scholarships.

When I'm learning a new gymnastics or figure skating skill, honey, I feel capable, I feel strong.

And more than what I can temporarily feel as a 35 year old who is like I guess an air quote athlete growing up

cheerleading and gymnastics gave me a place to feel accepted, nourished, engaged

and if I wouldn't have been allowed to have like tried out for

cheerleading or been a cheerleader, that would have like really altered the course of my life,

which maybe sounds hyperbolic to some people, but cheerleading and the group of people and the group of friends

that that gave me and it also taught me like work ethic, dedication, etc.

Like it literally saved my life and the way that we see people my age and

older attacking young people and attacking people's ability to join

a team, to play a sport while calling them frauds and all these like vile horrific things.

It's fucked up and this is a huge deal. It's setting

everyone back. We hate it. So to talk about that honey, we are talking to a

gorgeous man honey. Welcome to the show. Verity Bez Smith, who is the sports inclusion manager at Mermaids.

You may remember Mermaids and Louis Asquet who we interviewed a few years ago.

Go Louis, we love Mermaids.

Also by the way, Verdi is a fierce ass rugby player honey. How are you Verdi? I'm good.

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