Transgender Referee Embraced By Volleyball Community
Transgender Referee Embraced By Volleyball Community
Transgender volleyball referee Stephanie Shostak decided to come out instead of giving up the job she loves.
By Marc Raimondi
At one point, Stephanie Shostak considered giving up her job as a high-level volleyball referee. She’s very glad now she didn’t.
Shostak was concerned, understandably, about the reaction she would get after she came out as transgender to officials from Volleyball Canada and USA Volleyball, she wrote in an incredible first-person piece for OutSports on Wednesday.
The response she got? Nothing but encouragement.
“Ultimately, I decided that I loved the sport too much to walk away from it,” Shostack wrote in the piece. “I sent a memorandum to Volleyball Canada and USA Volleyball to let them know about my major life event. Both national governing organizations were very supportive. The refereeing and volleyball communities in general are like my extended family, and I got no negative feedback after my announcement. That felt awesome.”
After coming out, Shostak became a national referee in Canada and has refereed all levels of volleyball in Canada and college club volleyball in the United States. Last year, Shostack had the honor of being selected to referee the National Club Volleyball Federation Women’s Division I gold-medal match in Kansas City, Missouri.
“I was hit with a wave of emotion—shock, excitement and happiness,” Shostak said. “I was told I was assigned to the match based on my performance during the tournament. As a referee, I always strive to be the best that I can be, and I always hoped that I would rise to the level to get these assignments. This was especially special to me, as the gold-medal-match assignment was only 20 months since I had came out and eight months since I received my national certification.”
No one seemed to care at NCVF that Shostak was transgender. All they were concerned about was how well she did as a referee. And that evidently was quite well.
“Since I came out as a transgender referee, I have observed many positive changes in my life,” Shostak said. “Other people have noticed them as well. I have become a more proficient referee. I no longer have to worry about a deep dark secret popping out at any time. I can just focus on being the best referee that I can be, and that has definitely come to fruition.”
Shostak wrote that it wasn't an easy decision to come out to volleyball officials in both countries. She considered giving the job up out of that uncertainty. These are issues that transgender people all over the world have to juggle every single day.
It turned out as well as could have been expected for her—maybe better. She wrote that she has had referees and players approach her to say what an inspiration she is for them.
The volleyball community has embraced her—as Stephanie—with no questions asked.
“The fear I had of coming out as transgender was all between my ears,” Shostak said. “Once I was able to get past that I never looked back; and I am glad that I was able to make a difference in at least one person's life. I’m proud that it seems to have been even more than that.”
At one point, Stephanie Shostak considered giving up her job as a high-level volleyball referee. She’s very glad now she didn’t.
Shostak was concerned, understandably, about the reaction she would get after she came out as transgender to officials from Volleyball Canada and USA Volleyball, she wrote in an incredible first-person piece for OutSports on Wednesday.
The response she got? Nothing but encouragement.
“Ultimately, I decided that I loved the sport too much to walk away from it,” Shostack wrote in the piece. “I sent a memorandum to Volleyball Canada and USA Volleyball to let them know about my major life event. Both national governing organizations were very supportive. The refereeing and volleyball communities in general are like my extended family, and I got no negative feedback after my announcement. That felt awesome.”
After coming out, Shostak became a national referee in Canada and has refereed all levels of volleyball in Canada and college club volleyball in the United States. Last year, Shostack had the honor of being selected to referee the National Club Volleyball Federation Women’s Division I gold-medal match in Kansas City, Missouri.
“I was hit with a wave of emotion—shock, excitement and happiness,” Shostak said. “I was told I was assigned to the match based on my performance during the tournament. As a referee, I always strive to be the best that I can be, and I always hoped that I would rise to the level to get these assignments. This was especially special to me, as the gold-medal-match assignment was only 20 months since I had came out and eight months since I received my national certification.”
No one seemed to care at NCVF that Shostak was transgender. All they were concerned about was how well she did as a referee. And that evidently was quite well.
“Since I came out as a transgender referee, I have observed many positive changes in my life,” Shostak said. “Other people have noticed them as well. I have become a more proficient referee. I no longer have to worry about a deep dark secret popping out at any time. I can just focus on being the best referee that I can be, and that has definitely come to fruition.”
Shostak wrote that it wasn't an easy decision to come out to volleyball officials in both countries. She considered giving the job up out of that uncertainty. These are issues that transgender people all over the world have to juggle every single day.
It turned out as well as could have been expected for her—maybe better. She wrote that she has had referees and players approach her to say what an inspiration she is for them.
The volleyball community has embraced her—as Stephanie—with no questions asked.
“The fear I had of coming out as transgender was all between my ears,” Shostak said. “Once I was able to get past that I never looked back; and I am glad that I was able to make a difference in at least one person's life. I’m proud that it seems to have been even more than that.”