Harrison Browne, the first openly transgender hockey player, along with his sister Rachel Browne, an investigative journalist, have released a new book highlighting the need for transgender people in sports. The two worked together to publish “Let Us Play” which came out on May 27, 2025.
According to the back cover copy the book is, “interweaving Harrison’s first-hand experience as a transgender athlete with exclusive accounts—from athletes, coaches, policymakers, and advocates on the front lines—Let Us Play dismantles the illusion that sports have ever been fair, that trans athletes pose a threat to women’s sports, and that gender-affirming healthcare for athletes should be prohibitive to play.”
Although the book focuses on Harrison’s story, he has since moved on from ice hockey after he decided to medically retire in 2018 to begin taking testosterone.
Harrison’s mission since has been to give younger kids a way to connect with themselves and see themselves in film. He said if he had seen someone like him when he was younger, he would have come out earlier.
He has begun to write stories, films, and scripts highlighting transgender athletes.
As a part of this new endeavor, Harrison decided to partner with his sister on a book advocating for trans and non-binary people in sports.
Rachel Browne, his sister, said that the two came together during the pandemic with the idea of the book.
She said, “(Harrison) had kind of been playing with the idea of a memoir, and then we came together with our agent who really believed in us doing something together. Then it turned into this sort of mix of memoir and reporting. It sort of organically grew into this reported non-fiction book where we would tap into Harrison's connections and Harrison's lived experience in this world as a trans athlete.”
The two worked together for years to get the book just right. Rachel laughed when asked about what is was like working with a sibling and then said “It actually is easier, easier than I thought, certainly not easy." Rachel found that she leaned on her sibling for support and motivation, as did Harrison.
The final product was took time and it was the first time the two had worked together professionally. However with Rachel’s background in writing and researching and Harrison’s connections and knowledge of the topic, they created “Let Us Play”.
The book, which has a 4.2 / 5 rating on Goodreads, comes at a time of uncertainty for transgender athletes.
Specifically surrounding women’s ice hockey. The sport has grown exponentially in the past two years with the new creation of the PWHL. However, as the league is split between two countries, United States and Canada, players debate the current state of the league amidst US President Donald Trump's open statements against queer people in sports. Trump has spoken about banning transgender athletes and has been openly against queer marriage, specifically a law that passed allowing it in 2015.
Harrison emphasized that this book is for everyone and said during the process of writing it, the siblings interviewed people from all over the world. They spoke to trans people, trans families and people who oppose transgender athletes in sports.
The Browne siblings made sure that everyone’s voice was heard throughout their book. Harrison said, “I think the more that we can shed shed light on these stories and shed light on these people, the better it'll be for more awareness within the community. Because I think people are people are craving a way to talk about this topic in a way that isn't opinion based, isn't volatile, in a way where we can reach some common ground and really help kids just be able to be kids and play sports with their friends, because that's what it really comes down to.”
The book has received positive feedback, even getting a endorsement quotes. Megan Duggan, 3-time Olympian and Olympic gold medalist, USA Women’s Hockey said, “A crucial playbook that athletes and nonathletes alike can use to help make sports an inclusive place for all.”
Sports Anchor Jay Onrait said, “Get your head out of your phone and stop doomscrolling. Read Let Us Play instead.”
The book is currently out and available on all reading platforms.
Rachel emphasized the need for the book and said, “It's fortunate that this book is being received the way it has and being embraced so far in these early stages, but it's unfortunate that is so that it is so timely. On a broader scale, when it comes to chipping away at gender affirming care, access to adequate health care, respect in the classroom, respect in public spaces for trans people and non binary people, I think it's very urgent that these discussions are happening. Then this book comes out to try to give people sort of a guide or a bit of a tool that they can use when they're navigating these really tricky and fraught debates.”