October 24, 2026

Ice Hockey Commentator Comes Out as Trans

Lara Heubeck, an ice hockey commentator for Deggendorfer SC (DSC), has come out as a transgender woman. Since her public outing in May, she says she has received “almost entirely positive reactions.” The 33-year-old told the Passauer Neue Presse (a paywalled article). Before that, she had been plagued by worries: “I was simply afraid that people would turn away.”

Ausweis und Geburtsurkunde sind bereits geändert

Ten days after her coming out, Heubeck’s seriously ill mother died. She also witnessed that her openness had done her some good, Heubeck said, who hails from Stephansposching in Deggendorf County. In the town, many learned of her new first name only through the obituary — some assumed it was a misprint. “They didn’t know a Lara.”

Her gender identity became definitively clear to her between the ages of 18 and 20, Heubeck told the paper. For a long time she kept it hidden—in her job, in the roller-hockey club, and on the microphone. Support came from conversations with a psychologist and from group therapy; since December 2025 she has been undergoing hormone therapy. Identification documents and birth certificate have since been updated. “Thankfully, it wasn’t that difficult,” Heubeck said, referring to Germany’s Self-Determination Act.

Since then she has felt considerably more confident. With her story, she wants to encourage other queer people: “No one should have to hide who they are!” (mize)

Marcy Ellerton
Marcy Ellerton
My name is Marcy Ellerton, and I’ve been telling stories since I could hold a pen. As a queer journalist based in Minneapolis, I cover everything from grassroots activism to the everyday moments that make our community shine. When I’m not chasing a story, you’ll probably find me in a coffee shop, scribbling notes in a well-worn notebook and eavesdropping just enough to catch the next lead.