Must Reads

Bucsis comes out in response to Russian laws

Jim Buzinski

Canadian speedskater Anatasia Bucsis has become the second Winter Olympics hopeful to come out publicly as gay in response to the passing of anti-gay laws in Russia.

Olympic hopeful Connor Taras is gay

Cyd Zeigler

Connor Taras, a sprint kayaker, was kept from the 2012 Olympics by his struggles in the closet. Since coming out as gay last year, Taras has found a new “gay super power.” Look out, 2016.

Must Reads

Bucsis comes out in response to Russian laws Olympic hopeful Connor Taras is gay

The Canadian Olympic Committee on Tuesday will announce new initiatives to combat anti-LGBT bias across the Canadian sports landscape and open sports more fully to LGBT people. From the release:

On Tuesday December 2nd, 2014, the Canadian Olympic Team will be announcing several key LGBTQ-related initiatives, including a major partnership. Members of North America's sport and LGBTQ communities will be present.

Several LGBT Olympians are putting their name behind the efforts, including:

  • Mark Tewksbury, the ground-breaking Olympic gold-medal-winning swimmer who came out over a decade ago. Tewksbury has been an inspiration for many LGBT Olympians.
  • Anastasia Bucsis, the Olympic speedskater who came out last year in response to anti-LGBT laws in Russia.
  • Connor Taras, an Olympic hopeful in kayak.

We will have more on the announcement Tuesday morning.

This week Outsports will be running a series of articles about LGBT Canadian Olympians and Olympic hopefuls in conjunction with the Canadian Olympic Committee. Stay tuned.

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