What to know
- Quinn, an Olympic gold medallist and the first out Non-Binary Olympian, says growing anti-Trans rhetoric and legislation in Canada show the country is only “a few steps behind” the U.S.
- Quinn says Trans visibility is important but must be backed by meaningful allyship from governments, organizations, sports teams and communities to create lasting change.
- Lush has reintroduced its Inner Truth Bath Melt, with 75 per cent of the purchase price (excluding taxes) supporting organizations that protect Transgender participation in sports across Canada and the U.S.
- Alongside the fundraising campaign, Lush has expanded employee training to better support 2SLGBTQIA+ customers, while Quinn says businesses have an opportunity to move beyond symbolic Pride campaigns through sustained advocacy.
At a time when Transphobia and anti-Transgender legislation are becoming more prominent across Canada, a cosmetics company is showing support for the community through a fundraising campaign in partnership with the first out Non-Binary Olympian.
Canada is often referred to as a haven for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights. But Olympic gold medallist and Canadian soccer star Quinn says that sense of security can be misleading.
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Speaking at Lush’s North American manufacturing facility in Toronto on Thursday, Quinn, who is the first out non-binary person in history to compete at the Olympic Games, warned that the wave of anti-Transgender rhetoric and legislation seen across the United States is no longer something Canadians can afford to watch from a distance.
“We’re seeing visibility comes also at a cost,” Quinn said. “We’re seeing the pushback that’s happening right now in the United States, and in Canada as well.”
Several provinces have introduced or passed measures restricting gender-affirming care for youth or limiting the use of chosen names and pronouns in schools, prompting criticism from human rights advocates, medical organizations and LGBTQ2S+ groups who say the policies put Transgender youth at greater risk.
Meanwhile, south of the border, anti-Trans legislation has accelerated at an unprecedented pace. Hundreds of bills targeting Transgender people have been introduced across state legislatures, with many restricting gender-affirming healthcare, participation in sports, and recognition of gender identity. The surge has made Trans rights one of the most divisive political issues in the U.S., drawing widespread concern from civil rights and medical organizations.
Visibility is not enough, advocate says
Quinn added that while it comes at a cost, visibility alone isn’t enough to address anti-Trans policies that continue to gain traction across North America. The professional soccer player, who currently plays for Vancouver Rise FC and Canada’s national team, pointed specifically to legislation affecting young Transgender athletes in Alberta, warning that similar efforts are emerging elsewhere across the country.
“I think it’s easy for us at times in Canada to think that we live in quite a nice, comfy, cushy bubble,” Quinn said. “But I think that’s just not the reality that’s happening; we’re just unfortunately a few steps behind the U.S.”
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For them, the answer isn’t retreating from public life. It’s ensuring Transgender people like themself continue to be visible while receiving meaningful support from teammates, organizations and communities.
Finding belonging on and off the pitch: How Team Canada demonstrated allyship
Long before becoming the first openly Transgender and Non-Binary athlete to win an Olympic gold medal, Quinn says soccer became the one place where they felt grounded.
Growing up in Scarborough, Ontario, the midfielder started playing soccer at the tender age of six, following in the footsteps of their older sisters. They explained that as a young person, they grappled with average growing pains coupled with questions about gender identity growing up, but through this, the sport remained a constant.
“It was a way of expressing myself,” Quinn said. “A way of connecting with my body.”
That journey took on new meaning in college when the soccer player became involved with Athlete Ally, an organization that advocates for Queer and Transgender inclusion in sports. Through that work, the soccer superstar was able to connect with other 2SLGBTQIA+ athletes, something that they describe as crucial to understanding their own identity.
Joining the national women’s team in 2014, the star midfielder came out to their team as non-binary during the pandemic. But instead of presenting another hurdle to overcome, this experience embodied the allyship that Quinn says we need in order to accomplish meaningful change.
Without ever being asked to, staff for Team Canada prepared the uniform that they knew would be more comfortable for Quinn to wear and organized educational workshops so teammates understood how to support them.
“They really showed me what allyship could be,” Quinn said. “It wasn’t something that I had to ask them for. It was something that they knew was important to me.”
That support, Quinn explained, translated directly into confidence both on and off the field.
“When you wear the pair of pants that fits best for you, that makes you feel most confident,” they said. “For me, it was feeling the gender identity that I felt most confident in.”
Allyship beyond the rainbow logo: Why Lush is bringing back its fundraising campaign
Quinn’s remarks came during a behind-the-scenes event hosted by cosmetics company Lush to mark the return of its limited-edition Inner Truth Bath Melt.
Lush Cosmetics first opened its doors in the U.K. over 30 years ago, but the company has actually been operating in one way or another since 1977. First opening as a natural hair and beauty clinic producing in-house products, the company then evolved into Constantine and Weir, inventing and manufacturing products for The Body Shop. The brand then became Cosmetics to Go, before growing into Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics in 1995, and opening its first international location in Vancouver, B.C., in 1996.
Among many cult classic cosmetics that have become popular on both sides of the pond, the bath products are perhaps the most famous. The bath bomb was invented in 1989 by company co-founder Mo Constantine, who wanted a product to elevate bath time without irritating sensitive skin.
Lush’s range of bath products has since evolved to include oils, bubble bars, and melts. That includes the Inner Truth Bath Melt, part of the giving product series, which sees 75 per cent of proceeds donated to organizations that support Transgender communities.
Unlike many Pride-themed products that arrive during June before quietly disappearing, the bath product is tied to Queer advocacy outside of Pride Month. According to Lush, 75 per cent of the purchase price, excluding taxes, supports organizations in Canada and the United States that work to protect Trans people’s participation in sports.
During the Thursday event, Rachel Ettinger, brand lead for the North American arm of the company, said Lush decided to bring the product back because of the growing wave of anti-Transgender rhetoric and legislation becoming prominent in the region.
“This is the most important time ever to be talking about Trans rights,” she explained during the event at the Etobicoke manufacturing facility.
The company has also developed training for retail employees focused on supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ customers, including education around skincare changes that can occur during transitioning.
“The whole goal is anyone who walks through a Lush shop… feels seen,” Ettinger said.
For Quinn, initiatives like these matter because visibility alone cannot carry the weight of advocacy.
“I think visibility is such a huge thing,” they said. “There are really amazing Trans athletes that are sharing their story… But that’s only one piece of the puzzle.”
Making Canada’s voice louder
As debates over Trans participation in sports continue across North America, Quinn says Canadians have a responsibility to speak up before those conversations become part of the culture in our country.
“It’s really important for us to make our voice heard and make our voice loud,” they said.
The professional soccer player says they’re excited to focus on supporting the next generation of athletes while continuing to advocate for inclusion. For them, that work extends beyond the soccer pitch and includes partnerships with companies willing to publicly align themselves with Transgender communities through sustained action.
“I think sometimes it’s difficult to find companies that really align in value,” Quinn said. “Having Lush knock on my door was just an exciting moment.”
In the current political climate, Quinn’s message was ultimately one of urgency rather than despair. Visibility continues to be crucial, they said, but lasting progress depends on something more than that: allies who are willing to learn, speak up and invest in creating spaces where Trans people find a sense of belonging.
