I went topless as a trans man – and finally felt like one of the lads

I had been waiting patiently for this one moment, and the freedom I felt was indescribable(Picture: James Charles Abbott)

Pulling my shirt over my head and throwing it on the sand, I ran on the beach alongside my mates, laughing.

It was an ordinary moment made extraordinary by the overwhelming joy I felt – not just because I was in the Canary Islands, on holiday with my pals back in 2024.

But because I was topless – like my male friends usually are when playing football – and I finally felt one of the boys.

I had been waiting patiently for this one moment, and the freedom I felt was indescribable.

To play football with the lads – to be one of them– was euphoric. Because, while I’ve played football with the boys before, this was my first time doing it ...